Panthers travel to Victor Valley for another win

Chaffey’s softball team faced a strong Victor Valley College squad on the road Wednesday and emerged with a hard-fought 7-3 victory to stay perfect atop the Inland Empire Athletic Conference standings.

The Panthers struck in the top of the first inning when sophomore Rosyvette Garcia reached base and sophomore Lauren Chappell drilled a double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out.  Sophomore third baseman Fernanda Cano followed with a sacrifice fly RBI for a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Chaffey struck again. Sophomore catcher Allison Waite hit a one-out single, and one batter later, freshman outfielder Makayla Enriquez doubled her home for a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers added another in the top of the fifth when freshman shortstop Nevaeha Tarin drove in Chappell.

Victor Valley plated two in the bottom of the fifth and then tied the game in the 6th with three straight singles.

Chaffey’s last at bats proved fruitful as the Panthers erupted for four runs in the top of the 7th inning.  Five hits, keyed by freshman Khila Estrada’s triple and a pair of doubles, gave Chaffey a 7-3 lead.

Freshman reliever Sarah Hernandez shut down the home team in the bottom half of the 7th to get the victory. Chaffey is now 6-0 in conference and 16-7 overall.