The Cypress College softball remains undefeated in the postseason after a great showing in the Super Regional Tournament this past weekend at Allan Hancock College. The Chargers defeated Santiago Canyon 13-5 in GM 1, Santa Ana 5-2 in GM 2, and Santiago Canyon again 9-8 in GM 3 with a walk-off home run to send them to State.
Game 1: Cypress came out firing on all cylinders in game one of the Super Regionals against Santiago Canyon. The Chargers put seven runs on the board in the first two innings to take a 7-2 lead heading into the third. Santiago responded with two runs in the third and another in the fourth to close the gap, making it a 7-5 game. The Chargers put the game away in the bottom of the fifth inning with a six run rally to win by mercy rule 13-5 (5 innings). Cypress 1B, Alejandra Guillen (3-for-4), led the team with three hits and two RBI. Taylor Pierce earned her eighteenth win from the mound on the season after going five innings with three strikeouts.
Game 2: The Chargers relied more heavily on their defense in game two against OEC rival Santa Ana College. Both teams failed to score any runs in the first two innings. In the fourth, Santa Ana put a run on the board but Cypress answered with three of their own in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Chargers extended their lead by two runs in the fifth and hold on to win 5-2. Cypress LF, Kathy Villa (2-for-3), led the Chargers with two hits, two RBI, and one run scored. Taylor Pierce (19-5) earned another victory after collecting five strikeouts and allowing only seven hits in seven innings pitched. Shortly after the Chargers game two victory against Santa Ana on Saturday, legendary head coach Brad Pickler suffered a heart attack behind the home dugout at Allan Hancock College. Luckily, Cypress Athletic Trainer Scott Tucker was by his side as the symptoms occurred and Brad was able to receive immediate medical attention. (UPDATE: Coach Pickler returned home Monday after the game and even was spotted on campus at practice briefly on Tuesday).
Game 3: Despite the emotional evening Saturday night for our Chargers, on Sunday the girls came out ready to battle in game three. Cypress came out and took a 3-0 lead in the first until Santiago posted three runs of their own in the fourth to tie the game 3-3. The Chargers re-took the lead in the fifth with two more runs but Santiago responded with five huge runs in the sixth to take an 8-5 lead. However, the Chargers would not go away and scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Trailing 7-8 heading in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jezz Portillo hit a solo home run to tie the game. With two outs in the inning, Alexis Carmona hit a game winning, walk-off homerun to send Cypress to the State Championships in Bakersfield.
The Chargers (37-8) will join San Mateo (40-0), Palomar (38-3-1), and Cosumnes River (31-11-1) in the double elimination State Championship Tournament this weekend (May 15-17) at Bakersfield College. Cypress will face undefeated San Mateo College in game one on Friday, May 15 at 5:30 pm.
