CYPRESS, CA - The Cypress College softball team (5-1, 1-0 OEC) opened Orange Empire Conference play on the road against Orange Coast College (5-1, 0-1 OEC) on Tuesday. The Chargers, who entered conference play as the No. 2 ranked team in the CCCAA, handed the Pirates their first loss of the season by run-rule in six innings, 10-1. Cypress is looking to capture their fifth consecutive and 24th total OEC Title this season.
Freshman pitcher Janea Brannen (W, 2-1) got the start and the win for Cypress, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts in six innings of work.
Sophomore infielder Infinity Laufou powered the Cypress offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and 4RBI. Brannen went 2-for-4 with two doubles and 3RBI.
The Chargers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, before adding five more runs in the fourth. Laufou started things off with a two-run bomb over the centerfield wall. Eliza Sandoval (2-for-2, RBI) followed that up with an RBI single to right field. After a scoreless second and third inning, Vanessa Ayala (2-for-2, 2RBI), Laufou and Brannen all drove in runs in fourth to give Cypress a commanding 8-0 lead.
Orange Coast's Liana Castro (1-for-2, RBI) answered with a solo shot over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth. However, it would not be enough as a 2RBI double from Brannen in the sixth put the game away as the Chargers went on to win, 10-1.
The Chargers return to action in their OEC home opener on Wednesday against district rival Fullerton College at 3:00pm.
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