Cypress, CA - The Cypress College softball team (8-1, 4-0 OEC) fired on all cylinders against Golden West (2-10, 0-4), beating them 13-5 in five innings for their fifth mercy rule victory this season.
Allyson Painter led the team with three RBI, a run, and two walks while Nicole Wise had two hits with two RBI and a run. Vanessa Ledesma was awarded the win after pitching 5 innings despite allowing four runs.
With runners on second and third, Taylor Pierce opened up the scoring in the first inning when Golden West shortstop, Taylor Clinkaberry, misplayed a hard-hit grounder to bring in one run. After a walk by Allyson Painter, Nicole Wise slapped a single to left field to bring in another run to give Cypress a 2-0 lead.
The Chargers' offense did not slow down in the second inning when Tobi Salzman knocked a single to left field to bring home another run. Later in the same inning with bases loaded, Painter crushed a base-clearing double to deep center field to give Cypress a 6-0 lead.
The Rustlers refused to give Cypress any comfort as they mounted a five-run rally in the fourth inning. Ledesma caught herself in a jam with bases loaded and one out, when Adrienne Barrera slapped a single to center field to bring a run. After Jules Morey fouled out to first base, Yairely Vallejo followed with another RBI single to center field to cut Cypress' lead 6-2. Camille Maciel capped off the rally with a base-clearing double to cut the Chargers' lead to one.
Cypress was able to answer and put the game away early with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, beginning with an RBI single by Pierce to score Jezz Portillo. After a walk by Painter, Wise hit a bloop single to center field to bring home another run. Two outs later, Justice Walker squared up and belted a triple to deep left field to bring home three runs. She later scored on a balk to give Cypress an 11-5 lead. With runners on second and third, Jezz Portillo brought in two runs with a single to center field to extend the lead to 13.
Ledesma shut the door with a 1-2-3 outing in the fifth inning after giving up a pop fly and two line outs to close the game.
The Chargers will play Mt. San Antonio (11-1) tomorrow at 1:00 PM to push their winning streak to nine.
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