By Robert Nilsen
CYPRESS, CA- The Cypress College softball team (26-0, 13-0 OEC) beat Saddleback College (15-10, 7-5 OEC) 4-2 on Friday afternoon. The Chargers entered the game ranked No. 2 in California.
Vanessa Ledesma (11-0) got the start for the Chargers and picked up her eleventh win of the season as she pitched 4.2 innings while allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits. Nicole Wise (1-for-3, 2 RBI) and Val Romano (1-for-2, RBI) powered the Chargers offense.
Nelsa Delagente (10-10) received the loss for the Gauchos as she pitched 6 innings while allowing 4 runs on 5 hits.
The Chargers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI groundout by Wise. The Chargers added another run in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Alexis Zavala (1-for-2, RBI) to take a 2-0 lead. The Gauchos pulled back within a run on a sacrifice fly of their own in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Chargers lead to 2-1. The Chargers looked to reestablish their 2 run lead in the bottom of the fourth inning and they did so as Romano ripped an RBI double into left field to push the Chargers lead to 3-1. Cypress continued to produce on offense as Wise delivered a 2 out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Chargers a 4-1 lead. Saddleback struck back with a run of their own in the top of the sixth inning on a home run by Reis Birkett to cut the Chargers lead to 4-2. Cypress shut down the Gauchos in the seventh inning as they ended Saddleback's five game winning streak with a 4-2 win.
No. 2 softball will return to action with a doubleheader at home against Moorpark College on Saturday, April 1 with the first game at 12:00 PM.
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