Tigers Take Two from Canyons, 6-5 in Nine-inning Opener & 8-5 in Nightcap

RIVERSIDE -- Overcoming a plethora of errors on the night, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's fastpitch softball team posted a pair of non-conference victories -- 6-5 in nine innings and 8-5 in a regulation seven innings -- over the College of the Canyons (COC) Cougars Friday evening (March 28) at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).

Riverside (22-7), which was behind for prolonged periods of time in both games, was paced by Bailey Powell who pitched AND batted her way to a pair of victories with game-winning hits.

Powell, a frosh RHP from Riverside (Notre Dame HS), came on in relief to start the eighth inning in the opener and pitched a complete game in the nightcap. After allowing an earned run in the top of the ninth, Powell drilled a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the frame.

In the nightcap, Powell went seven innings, allowed five runs (one earned) on 12 hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. With the pair of decisions. Powell improved to 13-5.

In the opener, RCC trailed, 3-1, 4-3, and 5-4, before a pair of unearned runs turned trhe tide for the Tigers. Out of the 11 total runs by both teams, only four were earned.

In the finale of the night, RCC trailed 3-0, and 5-3, before the Tigers erupted for five unearned runs (aided by a pair of Canyons errors) in the bottom of the sixth. Frosh 3B Breanna Valles (Riverside / Roosevelt HS) ripped a two-run double to right-center field to tie the game at 5-5. Moments later, Powell blasted a three-run double to left field to give her and the Tigers some much-needed insurance runs. Powell had 5 RBI in the game, including a RBI double in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Canyons (12-12) sophomore LF Ashley Sandoval-Colon (San Fernando / Kennedy HS) was a thorn in the collective side of the Tigers all night as she went three for four with a two-run home run in the lidlifter and then went three for five with a two-run double in the nightcap. COC sophomore CF Venise Elisara (Kailua, HI / Kalaheo HS) stroked a solo home run to lead off the sixth.

COC frosh RHP Morgan Simmons (Calabasas / Oak Park HS) -- who started in the nightcap --was the hard-luck loser in both games and saw her record dip to 7-7.

Both teams return to conference action next week. On Tuesday, Apr. 1, Canyons hosts L.A. Valley College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. (with the finale at 3 p.m.) RCC visits the Cypress College Chargers on Wednesday, Apr. 2, at 3 p.m.

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