Softball: Roadrunners sweep opening-day doubleheader from SBVC

WHITTIER --- Making its return to the field for the first time since 2020, Rio Hondo College opened up the 2022 season in impressive fashion by earning a doubleheader sweep of visiting San Bernardino Valley College on Friday afternoon. The Roadrunners needed just five innings to take the opener 9-1 and closed out the day with a 7-4 victory.

Freshman shortstop Heaven Wolf had a huge day in her Rio Hondo debut. She went a combined 7 for 8 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI.

Wolf was a perfect 4 for 4 in Game 1 as she delivered the walk-off winner in the bottom of the fifth. Her second double of the game scored Leilani Martinez for Rio Hondo's final run.

Martinez (2 for 4, 4 runs) and Mariah Benitez (2 for 3) both had two hits. Ashley Bravo drove in two runs and went 1 for 2 with a triple.

Lourdes Soria went the distance in the circle for the opening-game win. She allowed one run and four hits over five innings. She struck out three and walked one.

Rio Hondo had to rally late to pull out the victory in Game 2. Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Roadrunners put up four runs to steal the win from the Wolverines. Wolf smacked three more hits, scored twice and drove in a run.

Alexis Rivera (3 for 4) had a big game with three hits while Martinez (2 for 4, 2 runs) and Kaylie Cervantes had a pair of hits each.

Clarissa Evangelista went seven innings in the complete-game victory. She allowed two earned runs and four hits.

Rio Hondo (2-0) returns to action on Tuesday (Feb. 1) when the Roadrunners travel to Citrus College for a 2:30 p.m. non-conference game.