HORNETS TAKE FIRST TWO IN OEC SERIES VS. RIVERSIDE
Heating Up at the Right Time.
The FC softball team continued its strong push in Orange Empire Conference play taking the first two games of the series at Riverside City College with a 4-2 win on Monday followed by a dominant 9-0 shutout on Tuesday.
In Monday's opener, Fullerton tallied 11 hits in the game. Sophomore Lisa Villanueva went 3-4 with 2 RBI to lead the offense. Alexandria Valdez had a 2-3 effort with 2 runs scored, while Juliana Ursino and Anela Quinones both drove in a run.
FC drew first blood in the top of the first on a single up the middle by Anela Quinones for a. Riverside jumped ahead in the bottom of the first with two-run homer, but FC responded midway through the game when Villanueva delivered a clutch two-RBI single in the fifth to give the Hornets the lead. Ursino added an insurance RBI double in the seventh.
In the circle, Emma Gamez earned the win going 6.1 innings, while allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and striking out five. Grace Workman came in to close the door, picking up the save.
The Hornets rolled in hot for Tuesday's game at RCC and turned in a dominant performance. Fullerton erupted for 9 runs on 10 hits while shutting out Riverside 9-0 enforcing the mercy-rule.
Prior to the game, the Tiger coaching staff honored their second-year players for Sophomore Day and also pulled a classy move including the Hornet sophomores.
Fullerton struck early and never let up, plating runs in four different innings. Juliana Ursino led the way offensively, going 2-4 with 2 RBI, while Lisa Villanueva added a hit and RBI. Carlie Danovich chipped in with an RBI double, and Lily Rice delivered the biggest swing of the game with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Workman was strong in the circle tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just 4 hits over five innings while striking out one and walking one efficiently retiring 21 batters on just 69 pitches.
Winning the last two games have secured the OEC series with the Tigers as the Hornets have one more OEC game left in the season trailing Saddleback by a game in the conference standings.
Up Next: The Hornets (25-13 overall, 14-6 OEC) will look to complete the series sweep when they host Riverside City College on Thursday, April 23rd at 3:00 pm. The game will also serve as Sophomore Day as the program honors its second-year players.
*Photo by Kaysea Luna
