By James Williams | Interim Sports Editor
Starting strong (Jarred Jackson | Staff Photographer)
By James Williams | Interim Sports Editor
The Riverside City College Tigers fastpitch team opened the season 2-0 after being ranked No. 5 in the state.
Marisa Gardea led the Tigers to a dominating victory over the Southwestern Jaguars, 9-1, in their season opener at the Evans Sports Complex.
Gardea had two hits in two at bats, which brought in three of the Tigers nine runs against the Jaguars.
“I think we did pretty good for the first time out,” said assistant coach Jose Ortega.
Nichole Zink pitched four of the game’s five innings for the Tigers, only giving up three hits.
Zink also gave up an unearned run, which was the Jaguars only run of the game.
The Tigers handed the Jaguars their first loss of the season after a four game winning streak to open the season.
“We did well (with) our aggressive base running,” said coach Michelle Daddona. “Our pitchers threw well tonight, only missing a few pitches and played well offensively.”
In the second game of the season, the Tigers defeated the Long Beach City College Vikings 7-2 on the road after managing to capitalize on all four of the Vikings errors in the game.
The Vikings took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning after Cassie Garcia brought in Danielle Hannan for the first run of the game.
It was not until the third inning that the Tigers were able to answer back after missing opportunities in the opening innings of the game.
Chelsea Crawley contributed bringing in two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Chelsea Rosario helped lead the Tigers offense going three for five hitting at the plate throughout the game.
Rosario also batted in the last run of six straight unanswered runs in the third inning for the Tigers.
Kendall Apodaca started the game for the Tigers, pitching the first four innings against the Vikings.
In the four innings Apodaca pitched she managed to allow only one hit for the Vikings and giving up one run.
Apodaca also struck out three Vikings players in her first win of the season.
Zink closed the game, pitching the final three innings in relief for Apodaca.
Zink allowed one earned run as the Vikings’ Melisa Sponholz brought in the run off a single toward midfield, for the second and last score of the game for the Vikings.
Zink also managed to strike out seven Vikings batters in relief duty.
