Cougars Get 11-0 Victory Over L.A. Valley on 'Sophomore Day'

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

College of the Canyons improved its conference win streak to three games with a run-shortened 11-0 victory over visiting L.A. Valley College during 'Sophomore Day' at Whitten Field on Thursday.

Canyons (22-15, 8-3) used a six-run outburst in the fourth to make quick work of an LAVC (9-27, 0-11) team still looking for its first conference victory.

COC sophomore pitcher Akane Gonzalez (12-5) earned the win with a shutout effort that included four strikeouts alongside two walks and just one hit allowed.

Jeniece Jimenez started the scoring with an RBI groundout in the first inning. In the next inning Belinda Lujano's RBI single pushed the Cougars' advantage to 5-0. Jasmine Soriano and Yahali Gonzalez also contributed run-scoring hits in the inning.

Lujano brought in two more runs in the fourth with a single that plated Yahali Gonzalez and Amber Phillips. She finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and the three RBIs.

Yahali Gonzalez was 2-for-2 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs. In all, seven Cougars recorded RBIs in the game with those totals coming on 10 hits.

LAVC starter Jovanna Ross (8-22) suffered the loss. She was charged with all 11 runs, 10 earned, with two walks and a strikeout.

Canyons will next face No. 1 state ranked Palomar College (34-1) in a home doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18.

COC closes out the regular season Tuesday, April 21, with a road trip to Bakersfield College (17-21, 6-5).

Regardless of the remaining results, the Cougars will finish the season second in the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division behind conference champs Antelope Valley College (28-10, 10-1). 

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