Hawks Erase Early Deficit to Win Rubber Match Against Riverside

The Santiago Canyon College softball team faced the Riverside City College Tigers in a rubber match Friday afternoon, with the winner claiming the series victory. Despite falling behind by three runs early, the Hawks surged ahead in the top of the third inning and never looked back, securing a 10-3 win.

With the victory, the Hawks captured their first conference series win and improved to two conference victories and snag their 10^th win on the season.

After allowing three runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Hawks responded two frames later with a five-run rally in the top of the third.

Freshman left fielder Abbygail Hansen led off the inning with a single to center field to spark the rally. She advanced to third base on a throwing error a batter later and eventually scored on a double steal to put the Hawks on the board.

Freshman center fielder Carmen Sanchez continued the momentum with a bunt single, moving sophomore right fielder Emily Ceballos into scoring position. E. Ceballos scored shortly after on a double by sophomore shortstop Mikayla Martinez, trimming Riverside's lead.

Sanchez later tied the game by scoring on a wild pitch following a Riverside pitching change. Martinez then crossed the plate on a triple by sophomore catcher Allie Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick eventually scored on a single up the middle from freshman first baseman Maya Medina, capping the five-run inning.

Freshman Brianna Longaker entered the circle after the Hawks' starting pitcher was unable to record an out in the first inning. Despite inheriting the early three-run deficit, Longaker settled in and blanked the Tigers for the remainder of the game.

She retired the side in the bottom of the third inning, finishing it with a strikeout looking. Longaker also struck out another batter to close the sixth inning and worked out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh that ended on a fly out.

The Hawks continued to build on their lead behind Longaker's dominance.

Medina, who already had an RBI earlier in the game, launched a two-run round tripper over the center-field wall in the fifth inning to extend the Hawks' lead to 7–3.

Martinez added to the scoring in the sixth inning with an RBI single to left field, bringing home Sanchez. Medina struck again later in the inning with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Martinez and Kirkpatrick to seal the 10–3 victory.

Longaker (4–6) delivered her best outing of the season, tossing seven innings while allowing just four hits and striking out five batters. She also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-4.

Medina powered the Hawks offensively, going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, five RBIs, and a run scored. Martinez followed with a perfect 3-for-3 performance that included two doubles, three runs scored, and two RBIs.

Kirkpatrick finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Hansen added two hits and scored once.