Hawks Soar Past Wolverines in Game One, Lead Nightcap Before Darkness Halts Play

The Santiago Canyon College softball team hosted the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines for a nonconference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks erupted for 10 runs in the opener, highlighted by a five-run second inning, to secure a 10-6 victory. Game two was halted due to darkness with Santiago Canyon holding a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth inning.

Game One: Hawks Ride Big Second Inning to Victory

Sophomore Emily Ceballos earned the start in the circle and opened strong in the first inning. She induced an unassisted groundout to freshman first baseman Maya Medina, then worked around a one-out single. Sophomore catcher Allie Kirkpatrick quickly erased the baserunner by gunning her down at second on a stolen base attempt. Ceballos closed the frame with a lineout to freshman second baseman Mariah Barron.

The Hawks wasted no time getting on the board, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Freshman shortstop Carmen Sanchez led off by taking a pitch off her leg and promptly stealing second. She later scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman center fielder Brianna Longaker. Two batters later, freshman third baseman Violet Avila delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home freshman designated player Alexis Chavez for a 2-0 lead.

Santiago Canyon broke the game open with a five-run second inning. Medina started the rally with a sacrifice lineout that scored freshman left fielder Alyssa Ceballos, who reached on a leadoff walk. E. Ceballos later crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Kirkpatrick. Avila then blasted a one-out double into the left-center gap, scoring Longaker and Sanchez. Kirkpatrick capped the inning by scoring on a passed ball, giving the Hawks a commanding 7-0 advantage.

San Bernardino Valley responded with three runs over the next two innings, but the Hawks answered in the fifth. Freshman right fielder Abbygail Hansen led off with a single and eventually scored on a fielder's choice off Sanchez's bat to maintain control.

Santiago Canyon added two more insurance runs in the sixth. Avila recorded her fourth RBI of the game with her second sacrifice fly, scoring Medina. Longaker later raced home on a groundout by Hansen to seal the 10-6 win.

Ceballos (1-0) pitched three innings, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out one and issuing just one walk to earn the win. Longaker came on in relief in the fourth inning and struck out five batters.

Avila led the offensive charge with a career-high four RBI, going 1-for-2 with a double and two sacrifice flies. Medina finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Longaker went 1-for-3, scoring twice and driving in one.

Game Two: Hawks in Control Before Darkness Suspends Play

Game two was halted due to darkness in the top of the sixth inning with the Hawks holding a 3-0 lead.

Freshman pitcher Victoria Recendez was in the midst of crafting a masterclass, allowing just one hit through five shutout innings while striking out four, including one looking.

Offensively, sophomore second baseman Mikayla Martinez went 2-for-3 with two RBI. In her second at-bat, she narrowly missed a grand slam, driving a ball halfway up the wall in dead center. Kirkpatrick and Emily Ceballos each went 2-for-2 and combined to score all three runs.

Stay tuned to www.scchawks.com for updates on the rescheduled completion of game two.