Posted: May 05, 2013
Barrios & Macias Sock Solo Home Runs to Power Tigers Past Ventura, 8-2
RIVERSIDE – Natalie Barrios and Katherine Macias socked solo homeruns and Chelsea Ponce went the distance and struck out a season-high 11 batters as the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's fastpitch softball team scuttled the visiting Ventura College (VC) Pirates, 8-2, in the opening game of best two-of-three Southern California Regional Playoff series Saturday evening (May 4) at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).
Riverside – the top-ranked team in Southern California (and tied for first in the state) – improved to 37-3 with the win, its fourth consecutive win, and 29th in its last 31 games. RCC continues to be undefeated at home (16-0). Ventura, seeded No. 16 in the regionals, fell to 20-18 with the loss.
The Tigers, in general, and Barrios, in particular, didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard. Barrios – a sophomore SS from Corona – Centennial HS – blasted a 1-2 pitch over the right-field fence for her 20th home run of the season to give RCC a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Macias – a sophomore 1B from Riverside – Arlington HS / Yavapai CC – Prescott, AZ – stroked a 2-0 delivery well over the left-field fence for her 15th round tripper and a 4-1 RCC lead.
In between, Ventura starting RHP Alexandria Thorpe (Ojai / Nordhoff HS) drilled a RBI double in the second for a short-lived 1-1 tie. She added a solo homerun in the fourth to pull the Pirates to within 4-2.
But RCC sophomore RHP Chelsea Ponce (Norwalk / San Bernardino – Cajon HS) kept the rest of the Pirates off balance. Ponce went the distance and allowed both runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks. She struck out a season-high 11 and improved to 22-2. Thorpe also went the distance (6.0 innings) and allowed eight runs (four earned) on ten hits and three walks. She struck out three and saw her record fall to 20-18.
Gina Grijalva, a sophomore 2B from Fontana – Summit HS, went three for three to aid the Tigers' cause.
Game two of best-of-three series will be played on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. If necessary, game three of the series will be played at 4 p.m.