Clutch Hitting Leads Softball to Victory over Antelope Valley

It was a close contest at Evans Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon as the Riverside City College softball team hosted the Antelope Valley College Marauders in non-conference play. After the Marauders notched the first run of the ball game in the top half of the first inning, the Tigers responded with a two-spot in the bottom of the second inning to grab the lead. Strong pitching from sophomore starting pitcher Brianna Arroyo sealed the deal down the stretch leading to a 3-1 victory.

Arroyo took the mound for her third start of the season and got off to a rocky starting by allowing one run in the top of the first frame. However, she settled in the rest of the way by retiring nine in a row which began in the top of the third inning to provide stability for the offense.

Offensively, Riverside struck in the bottom of the second inning with two runs. Sophomore slugger Jocelyn Ontiveros barreled a lead off blast deep over the left field wall to tie the contest up at one apiece. Freshman right fielder Savannah Fowlkes followed a handful of batters later with a single down the right field line, scoring sophomore second baseman Breanna Ceballos who reached on a walk, to hand Riverside a 2-1 advantage.

Riverside added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning due to a fielding blunder by Antelope Valley. Ceballos scored on the error after reaching base on a single through the left side to earn a 3-1 lead and eventually the victory.

Arroyo tossed her first-career complete game and came out victorious. She allowed just one run off seven hits and fanned two batters.

Freshman center fielder Samantha Peluffo and Fowlkes went 2-for-4 with Fowlkes earning a RBI. Ceballos scored twice on the day and recorded one hit, while Ontiveros notched a solo homerun.

Riverside will continue action on Wednesday, February 13 at home in their Orange Empire Conference (OEC) opener against the Fullerton College Hornets at 3 p.m. Follow live stats at www.rccathletics.com