CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College softball program extended its winning streak to an unprecedented 51 games after back-to-back mercy rule victories at home on Saturday afternoon. The Chargers moved to 3-0 on the season with an 11-3 (5-innings) win over Bakersfield, followed by a 13-5 (6-innings) victory over Antelope Valley College.
Sophomore ace Hope Davalos (3-0) earned both victories for the Chargers in the circle. Davalos went a combined 9.0 innings in the two games, allowing just 5 earned runs on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts. Sophomore catcher Kellee Ross got it done with her bat on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with 5RBI, 2 walks, and a her first homerun of the season. Freshman outfielder Gabrielle Munoz finished a perfect 3-for-3 with 4RBI and 6 walks.
The Chargers used a 7-run third inning rally to put away Bakersfield in the first game of the day. Tied 1-1 with the bases loaded, Munoz reached on a walk to score Jessie Gomez (1-for-2). Kiani Puailoa followed that up with an RBI single to make it a 3-1 lead with the Chargers' power hitters on deck. Infinity Laufou (1-for-1, 2RBI) drilled a line drive 2RBI single before Tianna Harris (1-for-3, 4RBI) piled onto the lead with a 3RBI triple to put the Chargers in complete control. Harris would then score on a Ross single to give Cypress an 8-1 lead headed into the fourth.
Cypress added a run in the fourth and two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game by mercy rule, 11-3.
Bakersfield earned a hard fought 1-0 victory over Antelope Valley College in the second game of the day as the Chargers looked on. Cypress would again take the field in the third and final game of the day against the AVC Marauders.
The Chargers' offense picked up where they left off, taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, before erupting for 6 runs in the second and 5 more runs in the third. Ross' three-run homer to left field capped off Cypress' second inning rally, while the 5-run third inning was earned single by single. The Marauders battled back with 3 runs in the fifth, but ultimately the Chargers would end the game by mercy rule at the bottom of the fifth inning as Harris scored the game's final run on a sacrifice fly.
Cypress College softball will return to action on Wednesday, when they travel to take on El Camino College in their first road game of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
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