The Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cubs used a late-game offensive surge to secure a 6-2 victory over Folsom Lake College, evening their Big 8 Conference record at 3-3 while the Falcons dropped to 2-3.
Both teams struggled to generate offense early, as SRJC's starting pitcher, Mia Avila, and Folsom Lake's defense kept the scoreboard clean through two innings. The Falcons broke through in the third, capitalizing on a leadoff error. Grace Diaz reached base and immediately put pressure on the Bear Cubs by stealing second and third. Aniya Cruz then brought Diaz home on a fielder's choice, giving Folsom Lake a 1-0 lead. The Falcons added a second run later in the inning when Mia Griffith reached on an infield single and Cruz came home on a defensive miscue, making it 2-0.
Avila settled in after the third, shutting down Folsom Lake's offense over the next four innings. She worked out of a jam in the sixth after allowing a leadoff walk, keeping the deficit at two and setting the stage for SRJC's offense to strike.
The Bear Cubs' bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth. Kali Garcia led off with a single, and after a fielder's choice, Mya Gonzalez delivered a clutch RBI single to bring SRJC within one. Avila then stepped up and helped her own cause with a base hit to center field, driving in the game-tying run. The momentum swung entirely in SRJC's favor as they loaded the bases, forcing a pitching change from Folsom Lake. However, the Falcons couldn't slow the Bear Cubs' surge. Alexis Hoke came through with an RBI single to give SRJC its first lead of the game. Niueni Elisara followed with a two-run single to left, extending the lead to 5-2. The Bear Cubs tacked on one more when Garcia worked a bases-loaded walk, bringing the score to 6-2 before the Falcons finally escaped the inning.
With a four-run cushion, Avila and the Bear Cubs' defense quickly shut the door in the top of the seventh. She retired the final three batters in order to secure the win.
SRJC aims to carry their momentum into tomorrow's non-conference doubleheader against Butte College, with games set for 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Tickets