CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College softball team had everything going in Friday's game one Super Regional victory over visiting Bakersfield College. The Chargers manufactured six runs on nine hits against one of the state's top pitchers, in Bakersfield's Kylee Fahy (L, 30-7). Meanwhile, Cypress ace Hope Davalos (W, 24-6), with some help from her defense, held the Renegades to one run on six hits. The Chargers will look to close out the best-of-three CCCAA Super Regional Series in tomorrow's game two, scheduled for 12:00 pm, followed by an "if necessary" game three at 2:00 pm.
Cypress got things started with one on and two out in the bottom of the second. Sophomore outfielder Tianna Harris (3-for-3, 2 RBI) drilled her first of three doubles on the day to right field, scoring Vanessa Ayala (0-for-3) from first. Harris would advance to third on an error in right field, before getting thrown out at home, giving Cypress an early 1-0 lead.
"I just came out looking to make contact to help us score some runs," said Harris. "Brad likes to scare us a little bit before we face pitching like this, so I came out pretty hard today."
Infinity Laufou (1-for-2, RBI) helped add to the lead in the bottom of the third. She sent an RBI double screaming down the first base line that scored Sydney McCollum (2-for-4) from second base.
The Chargers put together an impressive two-out rally in the fourth, to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Harris got things started with a double hit to the wall in the left center field, before scoring on an error. Gabby Munoz (2-for-2) drilled an RBI single to third base, followed by a Kiani Puailoa (0-for-3) bases loaded hit by pitch. All runs in the inning were unearned.
Harris added an insurance run for the Chargers with another RBI double in the fifth, before the Renegades answered with their lone run of the game in the sixth inning. Cypress went on to take game one of the series, 6-1.
With a victory tomorrow, the Chargers would stamp their ticket to a fourth consecutive CCCAA State Championship Tournament and have a chance to repeat as State Champions. "As a sophomore I'm not even going to think about it being my last home game tomorrow," said Harris. "I'm just playing it all the way to the end. We're just hyped."
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