Late Surge Lifts Cosumnes River Past Jaguars 8–3 in Doubleheader Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A big sixth inning proved the difference in Game 1.
San José City College cut a four-run deficit to one in the fifth, but Cosumnes River College answered with four runs in the sixth to pull away for an 8–3 victory Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Cosumnes River racked up 14 hits, including three home runs, to back a complete-game effort from Xochitl Atayde.
The Hawks struck first in the second inning when Faith Hahn delivered a two-run single, scoring Nina Najafizadeh and Charlize Fasula for a 2–0 lead. Hahn added another RBI in the fourth on a groundout, extending the margin to three.
Emma Misasi's solo home run in the fifth made it 4–0 before the Jaguars answered.
San José broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Chevelle Quistian lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Izzy Gutierrez. Moments later, DJ Martinez launched a two-run home run to left, trimming the deficit to 4–3 and energizing the home dugout.
The momentum, however, was short-lived.
Cosumnes River responded decisively in the sixth. Atayde delivered an RBI single, and Misasi followed with her second home run of the game — a two-run blast that pushed the lead to 7–3. Emily Azemar added a solo homer later in the inning to cap the four-run surge.
Misasi finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two home runs, while Azemar went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Hahn drove in two runs as part of a balanced Hawks attack.
For San José, Martinez led the offense, going 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. Arianna Vergara added two hits, and Shelby Apostolo doubled among her hits.
Priyah Quinonez (2-3) took the loss for the Jaguars, allowing seven runs over 5 2/3 innings. Makenna Sieling worked the final 1 1/3 innings in relief.
Atayde went the distance for Cosumnes River, scattering seven hits and striking out nine.
After climbing back into contention in the fifth, the Jaguars were unable to contain the Hawks' power surge in the late innings, setting up a pivotal Game 2 of the twin bill.
