RIVERSIDE, CA – The No. 2 ranked Cypress College softball team is entering postseason form down the final stretch of the regular season schedule, as proven by Wednesday's 9-0 mercy rule victory on the road against Riverside City College.
The victory moved the Chargers to 30-6 overall and 16-2 in conference play, clinching a share of the 2018 Orange Empire Conference Title. Cypress has three OEC games remaining and needs just one more win to clinch the OEC Title outright.
Sophomore pitcher Hope Davalos (W, 20-5) tossed a five-inning one-hitter to earn her 20th win of the season. Freshman infielder Destiny Lucero (2-for-3, 5 RBI, HR) powered the Chargers' offense.
Davalos allowed her only hit of the game to Riverside's leadoff hitter Kailee Gilbert in her first at-bat of the game, as the Tigers struggled to get going offensively.
Lucero put Cypress on the board in the second inning with an RBI double down the left field line. She would later score on a double-steal to give Cypress a 2-0 lead. The Chargers erupted for another six runs in the third inning, highlighted by a Lucero grand slam over the center field wall.
Cypress added an insurance run in the fifth inning and went on to win the game in five innings via mercy rule, 9-0.
Softball will return to action on Friday at home against Golden West at 2:00 pm.
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