Canyons Defeats Moorpark 5-2, Moves on to 3C2A Southern California Regional Bracket
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | X | 5 | 5 | 0 |
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
No. 16 College of the Canyons is moving on after defeating visiting Moorpark College 5-2 in the play-in game of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs on Tuesday at Whitten Field.
Canyons (23-18), competing in the postseason for a 13th consecutive year, overcame an early 1-0 deficit behind a strong pitching performance from Akane Gonzalez and a pair of run-scoring extra base hits from Yahali Gonzalez and Jordan Shepherd.
Yahali Gonzalez tripled to center field in the third inning to bring in Giselle Merida and tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning, Belinda Lujano's RBI singled put the Cougars on top 2-1.
Shepherd's home run, her team-leading third of the season, extended that lead at 3-1 in the fourth inning.
Meanwhile, Moorpark (17-16) didn't plate another run until Akane Gonzalez hit a batter with the bases loaded to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
Akane Gonzalez (13-7) pitched the full seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits, a walk and the hit batter. She allowed a first-inning home run but was otherwise unscathed in facing 29 batters.
COC added a pair of runs in the fifth highlighted by Jasmine Soriano's RBI single that scored Krista Viereck to put the score at 5-2.
Moorpark starting pitcher Alyssa Morales (10-10) took the loss for her five innings of work.
The No. 16 seed Cougars will now face No. 2 Cerritos College (31-9) in a best-of-three series beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, May 1.
The action continues at noon Saturday May 2, with a third game to be played at 2 p.m. that same day, if necessary.
Canyons and Cerritos previously met in the regular season with the Cougars traveling to face the Falcons in a doubleheader on April 7, however, COC dropped both of those contests.
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 Robert Hanashiro/COC Sports Information