The Santa Rosa Junior College softball team couldn’t overcome a 3-0 deficit after the first inning in a 7-6 loss against Cosumnes River College at Marv Mays Field March 24.
Cosumnes River struck fast in the first inning with three hits in a row, including an RBI double, before a two-out, two-run single to close out the scoring.
The Bear Cubs’ bats woke up in the bottom of the second, starting with a double by pitcher Mia Avila, followed by an RBI double by outfielder Brianna Allen. A single from first baseman Ava Raines kept the Bear Cubs knocking with a runner on first and third and one out, but a pop-out and flyout followed to end the inning.
“I feel like we were able to make adjustments to their pitcher,” said assistant coach Anna Zoia-Buescher. “Letting our girls trust what we’ve worked on, then going in to the at-bat with a plan and making those adjustments.”
Two decisive defensive plays from Santa Rosa second baseman Niueni ‘Ninu’ Elisara highlighted the scoreless third inning, along with a two-out triple in the bottom of the inning by outfielder Mira Olvera.
An error-filled fourth inning followed the quiet third inning, with Cosumnes River leading off on a fielding error when a runner advanced to second on what could’ve been a single. Another hit followed, bringing the Cosumnes River runner to third, but a miscommunication by the Bear Cubs opened up home plate when the catcher threw down to an empty second base, allowing the ball into center field.
With the score 4-1, Bear Cub Kaihla Jarvinen led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run in a 3-2 count.
“I was in my head a lot, I tried to relax and remind myself that my team is here for me and I’m capable,” said Jarvinen. “I was so happy, it was what I needed in that moment to pick me up.”
Consumes was able to tack on two more runs after an out in the top of the fifth, with an RBI single and a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, before a strikeout by pitcher Gia Hernandez got the Bear Cubs out of the inning.
SRJC rallied in the bottom of the fifth off a second triple from Olvera. With two outs, Avila came back into the game to pinch hit and bring Olvera home after a single.
“I just tried to keep it as simple as possible and tried to do something big for my team,” said Olvera.
The Bear Cubs shut out CRC in the top of the sixth and followed up with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Outfielder Brianna Allen led off with a single, followed by a high hit ball by Raines that dropped when the center fielder and right fielder ran into each other, allowing Raines to advance to third and Allen to score. Emma Wallace came in to pinch-run for Raines and scored on a groundout, bringing the score to 6-4 headed into the seventh.
“We have the energy,” said Zoia-Buescher. “It’s just a matter of us buying into it.”
Cosumnes River added a sacrifice fly at the top of the inning to widen the gap 7-4.
The Bear Cubs tried to keep their comeback bid alive, getting runners on first and second with no outs. But after a strikeout and a fielder’s choice, SRJC picked up another out with runners still on first and second. Allen delivered with a single to right field, scoring Olvera from second. With the chance to tie it up with two outs, the comeback fell short after a groundout.
“We need to stay up and stay energized,” said Jarvinen. “Next game, we need to come out with some fire.”
