Softball Strikes Early and Often in Win Over Rio Hondo

All but one starter recorded a hit Tuesday afternoon as the Santiago Canyon College softball team hosted the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners in non-conference action. The Hawks tallied 12 runs on 12 hits and leaned on a dominant outing from freshman starter Brianna Longaker in a five-inning, 12–1 victory.

Longaker took the circle for the fourth time this season and allowed just one run on one hit. She opened the game by surrendering a lazy stand-up double to the Roadrunners' leadoff hitter but went on to retire the next six batters in order. She recorded two strikeouts in the first inning, followed by a popout to freshman shortstop Carmen Sanchez and a slow dribbler handled cleanly by sophomore catcher Allie Kirkpatrick.

Longaker's fourth inning was nearly flawless despite a run scoring on a wild pitch. Longaker struck out the second batter of the inning and closed the frame with a swinging strikeout.

The Hawks' offense struck early, posting a crooked number in the bottom of the first inning. Kirkpatrick led off with a walk and promptly stole second base before scoring on a single through the left side by freshman second baseman Violet Avila. Avila later crossed the plate along with freshman third baseman Angeline Canez, who reached on a base hit, when Sanchez ripped a double down the right-field line. Sanchez then scored moments later on a failed back-pick attempt by the Roadrunners' catcher to give Santiago Canyon a 4–0 lead.

The Hawks added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Sanchez opened the frame with a double down the left-field line and scored on a base hit to right field by Longaker. Freshman right fielder Abbygail Hansen followed with a single up the middle to score freshman first baseman Maya Medina, who had reached on a single to left. Two batters later, Kirkpatrick singled to first base, driving in left fielder Alyssa Ceballos to cap the four-run inning and extend the lead to 8–0.

Santiago Canyon continued to pour it on in the bottom of the fourth inning, bagging another four runs. The rally began with a throwing error by the Rio Hondo catcher that allowed Sanchez to score after reaching on a one-out infield single. Hansen recorded her second RBI hit two batters later, scoring Medina. Additional defensive miscues by the Roadrunners allowed A. Ceballos to cross the plate, followed by a bases-loaded single through the left side from Canez that scored Hansen and sealed the 12–1 victory.

Freshman reliever Victoria Recendez, who pinch-hit for Longaker in the bottom of the fourth inning and drew a walk, stayed in to close out the game. She allowed one infield hit but induced two groundouts to second base and finished her appearance with a strikeout.

Longaker (3–1) earned her third win of the season after four innings of work, allowing just one hit and striking out six batters. Offensively, she went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Sanchez led the offense from the cleanup spot, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, three runs scored, and two RBIs. She also stole a base. Canez finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Hansen collected two hits, drove in two runs, and scored twice.