CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College Softball Team (37-5, 21-0) swept Long Beach City (23-20, 12-9) after a dominant 12-0 victory (five innings) in game two on Sunday. The Lady Chargers will host the Super Regional Playoffs on Friday, May 13th-Sunday, May 15th.
In contrast to yesterday's game, the Chargers were in their usual element, scoring in every inning and putting in quality at-bats. Vanessa Ledesma (20-2, 1.93 ERA) pitched five shutout innings for her second postseason victory while her counterpart Anissa Hamilton (5-6, 3.58 ERA) was charged with three runs in two innings of work for the loss. Brooke Loard struggled in two innings of relief, allowing seven runs to score. Melanie Okazaki had a big game at the plate, hitting 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs. Jezz Portillo finished 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Justice Walker (1-for-3) led off the first inning by stealing second base after being walked. Okazaki advance Walker to third after reaching first on an error from the shortstop and later stole second during Tobi Salzman's at-bat. Although Salzman and Portillo got out, leaving runners stranded on second and third, Jenny Vazquez (1-for-2) capitalized on the opportunity with a hard hit single to left field. In the following inning, Portillo managed to take advantage with the bases loaded by lining a single to left field to extend the Chargers' lead to 4-0.
Alexis Carmona (1-for-1) knocked an RBI double in the third inning to put the Chargers' up 5-0. The Chargers followed that up with a 7-run rally in the fourth inning to put the game away. With a runner on third base, Portillo brought home an insurance run with an RBI single to center field. After a walk by Vazquez and a single by Allyson Painter (1-for-2), Nicole Wise sent a single to bring home another run. Alex Castillo (0-for-1) saw her grounder misplayed by the second baseman for an error, scoring Vazquez from home. Emma Walker (1-for-1) kept the momentum going with another RBI single. After Walker popped out, Long Beach gifted Cypress another run after a passed ball from the catcher. Okazaki capped off the rally with a two-run RBI double to give Cypress a 12-0 lead.
The Super Regionals will be a round robin, double elimination format and the winner will advance to the State Championship Tournament. Opponents and game times will be released on sports.cypresscollege.edu and on social media @CypressChargers.
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