Soriano's Six RBIs Push Cougars Past Host L.A. Valley 10-9
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
VALLEY GLEN — College of the Canyons won its third straight contest on Tuesday, this time picking up a 10-9 road victory at L.A. Valley College behind six RBIs from freshman Jasmine Soriano.
Canyons (16-11, 3-2) has now emerged victorious in five of its last six games including three straight conference wins. L.A. Valley (8-20, 0-5) lost for the first time in four outings, seeing its three-game win streak come to an end.
The Cougars used a four-run sixth inning to move ahead for good in what was a back-and-forth affair that included a combined 28 hits between the two lineups.
Jeniece Jimenez, Jordan Shepherd and Soriano each recorded RBI doubles in the decisive late-game sequence to put Canyons ahead 10-8.
Soriano ended the day 4-of-5 with a home run, two doubles, a run and the six RBIs.
The freshman out of Granada Hills Charter got the scoring started with a two-run double in the first inning. She later added a three-run home run in the third that put the Cougars ahead 5-3.
With the Cougars trailing by two in the fourth Jocelyn Jimenez' RBI single moved COC back to within a run at 7-6.
Jocelyn Jimenez was a perfect 3-for-3 with two walks, adding two runs and a pair of stolen bases.
Jeniece Jimenez recorded three RBIs, scored three runs and was 2-for-3 with two walks.
Shepherd and Belinda Lujano both had two hits in the game with Shepherd also adding a pair of sacrifices.
Following the Cougars' back-to-back-to-back doubles in the sixth, an LAVC home run in the bottom of the inning made things a bit closer, but it wasn't enough to force extra innings.
COC sophomore Akane Gonzalez earned the win after four and 2/3 innings of relief. She allowed two runs on five hits and walk with three strikeouts.
Gonzalez (7-2) took over in the third inning after starter Anais Perez was removed from the game. Perez was charged with seven runs, but only three earned, on eight hits and three walks.
L.A. Valley starter Jovanna Ross pitched the whole way in suffering the loss. Ross (7-16) walked six batters and surrendered 15 hits in defeat.
The one-run victory was the third of the season for Canyons. COC is now 3-4 on the year in one run games.
Canyons will close the opening round of conference play on Thursday, March 26, with a home game vs. Bakersfield College (13-15, 3-2). First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. with that contest being live streamed to fans free of charge via YouTube on the Cougars Sports Network.
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
