Cougars Capture First Conference Win 7-4 at L.A. Mission

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

SYLMAR — College of the Canyons plated three runs on Jordan Shepherd's pinch hit home run in the sixth to help secure its first conference victory with a 7-4 road win at L.A. Mission College on Tuesday.

Canyons (13-10, 1-2) scored a pair of runs in the first and third innings to build a 4-1 advantage headed into the fourth inning.

COC received an RBI single from Jeniece Jimenez in the first frame, then saw Jocelyn Jimenez come in to score as part of a double steal for the Cougars.

Jocelyn Jimenez later homered in the third ahead of Amber Phillips' bases-loaded walk to make it a 4-1 Canyons lead. Jocelyn Jimenez finished the game 2-for-4 with the home run and two runs scored. Phillips walked twice in the contest.

COC starter Anais Perez controlled the L.A. Mission (10-14, 1-2) lineup for the bulk of the game aside from a three-run surge by the Eagles in the fourth inning. LAMC also scored a run in the second inning.

Perez (7-7) earned the win after pitching the full seven innings. She allowed four runs, three earned, while scattering 10 hits alongside four walks.

Shephard, who returned to the lineup after a three-game absence, added her three-run home run in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie and put the Cougars ahead for good.

Krista Viereck recorded two hits, while Giselle Merida was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

Canyons is back in action for a non-conference doubleheader at Santa Ana College (4-15, 2-5) on Wednesday, March 18. Games are slated for 2 and 4 p.m.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Photo by Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information