Riverside Routs Golden West in Mercy Rule Triumph

The Riverside City College softball team returned to Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action on Monday afternoon by hosting the Golden West College Rustlers. Despite Golden West jumping out to an early lead, the Tigers followed with a heavy dose of offense highlighted by an eight-run second inning leading to an 11-3 mercy-rule victory.

Golden West rung first with a run in the top of the second inning, but sophomore starting pitcher Lorena Fitch settled in the following frame by retiring the side in order. The Tigers responded to the one-run deficit with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Riverside barreled seven hits in the inning with four of them going for extra bases. Sophomore designated player Anna Loreto kicked off the inning with a leadoff double and promptly came around to score on an RBI-single from sophomore first baseman Jocelyn Ontiveros. Sophomore second baseman Breanna Ceballos followed with a triple two batters later, plating Ontiveros.

The inning continued compliments of a two-RBI double from freshman left fielder Loreal Fuerte. Sophomore shortstop Karter Williams kept the RBI train chugging with a single up the middle, backed by a two-RBI double from freshman third baseman Danielle Lopez. Lopez came around to score on a passed ball three batters later to hand the Tigers an 8-1 lead.

Golden West continued to chip away at the deficit by scoring two more runs in the top of the third, but Riverside was too much to handle down the stretch. They plated three more insurance runs with two coming in the bottom of the sixth compliments of a game-ending two-RBI double from pinch hitter Maryjane Davila leading to the victory.

Fitch (8-4) earned the win in the circle after tossing four innings and allowing four runs off three hits. Freshman Brianna Arroyo chucked the final two frames and allowed one hit while fanning two.

Williams clocked in a 3-for-4 day with an RBI and a run scored, while Ontiveros mirrored her efforts with a 3-for-4 showing as well.

Riverside (15-11, 4-7 OEC) will continue conference action on Wednesday, March 27 against the Santiago Canyon College Hawks at home at 6 p.m.