Women’s softball wins a dominant offensive performance against Riverside at home

LBCC’s softball win 9-1 in six innings to improve their record to 16-7 behind Ella Haugo’s six strikeouts.

Starting pitcher Adalise Valenzuela got into some trouble with two runners on base with nobody out, forcing LBCC’s coach Megan Martinez to substitute Valenzuela and bring in their ace Haugo. 

Haugo gave up an RBI single to Riverside’s third baseman Alysha Kendrick, which became the only run Riverside scored in the game. 

LBCC quickly tied the game with an RBI single from shortstop Madison Fao in the bottom of the first inning. 

Infielder Ali Calderon would break the tie with an RBI triple, along with an RBI double from 3rd baseman Michelle Cervantes, giving them the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning. 

Right fielder and power hitter Riannah Maulupe would add on an RBI double to add one more run for the Vikings in the bottom of the fourth inning, making it 4-1. 

Haugo would have six innings of pure dominance on the mound with six strikeouts, which was what her team needed from her on the mound, while the Vikings ended with a huge offensive inning, scoring five runs ending the game in six innings. 

“Yeah we like to attack the zone and we made sure to get some good barrels at the plate today. We definitely have made sure to hit our pitches, opposed to earlier in the season when we were hitting the opponent pitcher’s pitches so that’s been really the game plan we stuck with for this game so far,” said LBCC’s coach Martinez about the team’s performance. 

Haugo reflected on her performance and shared the team’s expectations as they will be playing for a chance to defend their conference championship title.

“I honestly think trusting my defense and the pitch calls have helped me, if I don’t trust the pitch calls then I get nervous, that’s what has been helping me this season. We’re just gonna keep working harder and better so we don’t take our opponents lightly when we go against them,” Haugo said. 

Riannah Maulupe described her game plan, and shared how it ended up working, as she went two for four, with 3 RBI’s in the game. 

“Coach wanted me to hit the balls on the ground, which was the game plan from the start, so I kept my barrel on top of the ball and driving it through gaps and on the ground for sure,” said Maulupe.

First baseman Isabella Galan hit the walk off hit to win the game for her team, making a strong statement for the team.

LBCC’s women’s softball record is 21-8-1 overall and 10-5 in conference and the next game is Tuesday at Antelope Valley starting at 2 p.m.