Softball: Early innings hurt Rio Hondo in loss to San Bernardino Valley

Freshman Alize Lopez allowed one earned run over six innings of relief and also smacked a triple at the plate in Rio Hondo College's narrow 4-2 non-conference loss to visiting San Bernardino Valley College on Thursday.

San Bernardino Valley scored two runs in the top of the first inning off starting pitcher Taylor Alcala and added two more in the second of Lopez before holding on for the win. Lopez went on to hold the Wolverines scoreless for the final five innings.

The Roadrunners scored both their runs in the bottom of the second. Lopez started the rally with her one-out triple and came in to score on Janae Moreno's ground ball that was misplayed for a two-base error. Moreno advanced to third on a deep flyout and came home on a clutch two-out single by Desiree Rhodes.

Rio Hondo's best chance to tie up the ball game came in the sixth, but the Roadrunners stranded a pair of runners on base.

Samantha David (2-for-4) and Victoria Medina (2-for-3) both had two hits for Rio Hondo.

Rio Hondo, now 5-32-1 overall, closes out the 2018 season on Tuesday (April 24) with a 3 p.m. South Coast Conference home game against East Los Angeles College.