Cougars Bounce Back to Split at Santa Ana

A group of smiling College of the Canyons softball players in bright yellow “Cougars” uniforms pose together on a sunny field, standing closely with arms around each other in front of a school building and outfield fence during the doubleheader vs. Santa Ana College on March 18, 2026.
Box Score Box Score
March 19, 2026

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

SANTA ANA — College of the Canyons split its non-conference doubleheader at Santa Ana College on Wednesday, with the Cougars using a five-run first inning to earn the bounce-back victory in game two.

Canyons (14-11, 1-2) suffered a 5-3 loss in the opener to halt a two-game win streak. The Cougars then pounced on Santa Ana in the late game, riding that five-run outburst to an eventual 6-2 victory.

Jeniece Jimenez got the scoring started with an RBI triple that brought in two runs. Jordan Shepherd continued to flash a hot bat with a single down that left field line to plate Jeniece Jimenez and move COC ahead 3-0. 

Giselle Merida brought Shepherd in on an infield ground out before Belinda Lujano capped the first inning with another RBI base hit for the 5-0 advantage.

Shepherd, Jeniece Jimenez and Merida were joined by Yahali Gonzalez in collecting two hits apiece in the game.

COC received a big lift from sophomore pitcher Akane Gonzalez who returned to the Cougars' starting lineup in making her first start in the circle since Feb. 10. 

Akane Gonzalez (6-2) earned the win by scattering six hits across the full seven innings. The right-hander walked one, struck out three and was charged for two earned runs.

Santa Ana (5-16, 2-5) drove in a run in the fourth inning to make it a 6-1 game and was able to score another on an extra-base hit in the final frame.

In the opener, it was Santa Ana able to overcome more early production from the Cougars' lineup.

COC built a 3-0 lead heading into the home half of the second inning before the Dons regained control. Santa Ana got to Canyons starter Anais Perez in pushing across four runs in the inning to take a 4-3 lead.

Perez (8-8) pitched into the third but allowed another run and was later tagged for the loss. She lasted two and 2/3 innings allowing five hits with two walks. The Cougars' defense also committed three errors behind Perez.

Akane Gonzalez pitched a scoreless final three and 1/3 innings to keep Canyons in the contest, but the Cougars didn't score again in the game.

Jocelyn Jimenez recorded an RBI sac-fly in the first and singled in another pair of runs in the second to aid the Cougars' scoring efforts. Yahali Gonzalez had two hits in the game to represent the only multi-hit stat line of the game.

Canyons continues its busy week with a conference home game vs. Glendale College at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 19. The Cougars previously defeated conference foe L.A. Mission earlier in the week before splitting the doubleheader vs. Santa Ana.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.