In its final home game at Loma Linda University's Drayson Center, the San Bernardino Valley College softball team made sure to go out with a bang.
The Wolverines pounded out 22 hits in its doubleheader against Chaffey College, splitting the two games with the Panthers. Chaffey won Game 1 by a score of 11-7, with SBVC taking Game 2 with a 9-6 final.
SBVC led in Game 1 thanks to a three-run fourth inning giving it a 3-1 advantage. But the wheels fell off in the top of the fifth, as Chaffey sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring six runs on eight hits, with SBVC commiting two errors to make it 7-3.
But SBVC scratched back with one in the bottom half of the inning, then three more in the sixth to send the game to the seventh tied at seven. But two more errors in the top of the seventh gave Chaffey the advantage, as the Panthers got to a tiring Ayanna Aguilar in the circle to pull away.
Game 2 got off to a quick start, with both teams posting a pair of runs in the first. SBVC was the beneficiary of a two-out error that allowed Tara Walker and Stephanie Russo to score on Alyssa Jauregui's dropped fly ball.
SBVC took the advantage with a four-run third inning. Walker led off with a bunt single, then moved to second on Angelina Agramon's sacrifice. Russo singled home Walker to break the tie, and Aubrey Slider doubled down the left-field line to move Russo to third. Jauregui singled home Russo, then Kaitlynn LaFleur followed with a double to right-center to score Slider with Jauregui stopping at third, chasing Chaffey starter Amanda Sera. Jauregui was thrown out at home trying to score on a passed ball for the second out, but Adriana Lopez singled home LaFleur to give SBVC a 6-2 lead.
The Wolverines broke things open in the fourth with a two-out rally - and an error that extended the inning. After Jaci Hernandez led off with a single, she was still at first with two outs until Russo singled through the right side, moving Hernandez to third. Russo stole second, and Slider reached thanks to catcher's interference. Jauregui singled to right to score Hernandez and Russo, with Slider heading to third. afleur dropped down a perfect bunt down the third-base line and beat out the throw to score Slider, making it 9-2.
From there, SBVC was content to give up runs in exchange for outs, while getting solid defense behind Game 2 starter Jazmine Solis, including Walker fielding a ground ball at short, tagging the runner trying to advance to third then throwing to first for an inning-ending double play.
Russo finished the day going 5-for-8 at the plate with four runs scored and two runs batted in. Jauregui was 3-for-7 in the two games, with three RBI, while LaFleur was 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI.