Rams Suffer Tough Loss at Home

Coming off a loss in their first conference game of the season against College of Sequoias, the Fresno City College softball team was facing Merced College at home and looking to gather some momentum in league play.

The Rams began the game with freshman pitcher Mayra Mendez on the mount, who quickly found herself in trouble when Merced College’s infielder Arisa Nishibe hit a homerun in the first at-bat of the game.

The inning turned worse when the next three consecutive players reach base loading the bases.

After getting the first out of the inning, Mendez had her next batter hit a single to right field that brought in two runs, making the score three to zero.

Mendez finally got out of the inning when Merced College’s catcher, Elizabeth Cuevas was forced out of second base.

Next batter, infielder Brianna Flores hit to right field and  was caught by FCC’s outfielder Alyssa Geiger.

The Rams had little luck finding their stride in the bottom of the the first and it wasn’t until a pop fly that was dropped in the outfield that catcher Karen Zamora reached base, but after a walked batter, the next batter struck out ending the first inning.

In the top of the second inning, Mendez’ pitching struggle continued giving Merced College more opportunities to score by allowing two more runners to reach base, and then giving up a double to center field, which allowed Merced College to score and make the game four to zero.

At that point, coach Ronda Williams decided to change Mendez and bring in freshman Anisha Navarro as a reliever.

Navarro finished the top of the second by getting the last two out with some help from her defense.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Rams’ offense started to have success.

After the first two batters struck out, Merced College’s pitcher Brianna Lopez walked the next two batters and then allowed a single to center field by FCC’s infielder Alyssa Caballero, which allowed infielder Jackie Mendez to score.

Then, infielder Sara Specht hit a triple to left field which brought in outfielder Madison Forester and Caballero, bringing FCC to one run of tying the game.

The rallying inning ended and FCC was within distance of making a comeback in the late innings.

At the bottom of the fifth inning, outfielder Kourtnee Dillard hit a solo home run, tying the game and giving the Rams hope for a comeback win.

The hopes for a comeback were diminished when in the top of the sixth inning, Lopez hit a homerun with a runner on base giving Merced the lead by two.

FCC tried to come back in the bottom of the sixth and the bottom of the seventh but with no luck, and the game ended with FCC losing four to six.

“We didn’t play poorly, we just didn’t cash in on the opportunities we had,” said coach Williams after the game. “We are having to play catch up, so if we can keep them from scoring early, things might be different.”