Gonzalez Leads 3-0 Shutout Over Bakersfield

On a sunny softball field, College of the Canyons softball student-athlete Akane Gonzalez wearing a white pinstriped “Cougars” uniform and protective face mask releases a bright yellow ball mid-pitch. She wears blue socks, a blue glove, and reflective sports sunglasses, with her body leaning forward in follow-through. In the background are a dirt infield, green grass outfield, and a blue outfield fence with trees beyond. A large vertical graphic on the left displays the final score: Cougars 3, BC 0, with team logos and a gold-and-blue color scheme, and a cougar head logo appears in the top right corner.
Video Box Score
March 27, 2026

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

College of the Canyons won a fourth straight contest as sophomore pitcher Akane Gonzalez shutout the Bakersfield lineup for a 3-0 win Thursday at Whitten Field.

Canyons (17-11, 4-2) has now won four straight Western State Conference (WSC), South Division games after beginning the conference portion of its schedule 0-2. 

The Cougars have also emerged victorious in six of their last seven games, while the current four-game win streak is one short of the season-best five-game streak COC established between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6.

Gonzalez (8-2) posted her third shutout of the year, and second in the last four games, to earn the win. She limited the Renegades to just three hits while striking out three and walking one. That performance lowered her ERA to 1.74 on the year.

Neither team was able to get much going offensively until the Cougars pushed across three runs in what turned out to be a decisive sequence in the sixth inning.

Yahali Gonzalez doubled to begin the COC sixth and later came around to score on Jocelyn Jimenez' RBI sac-fly.

Jeniece Jimenez then worked a two-out walk before Jordan Shepherd put a ball in play that allowed Jeniece Jimenez to score at 2-0 on a Bakersfield fielding error. 

After a BC pitching change Jasmine Soriano singled to bring Shepherd home and make it a 3-0 ballgame.

Soriano finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and RBI to continue a hot week at the plate. The freshman drove in six runs during COC's road win at L.A. Valley earlier in the week.

Bakersfield (13-16, 3-3) was retired in order in the seventh to end the game. The Renegades have now lost six of their last seven games. 

Alexia Martinez (5-6) took the loss despite allowing three runs, one earned, in her five and 2/3 innings. Martinez also recorded one of just three BC base hits on the day.

Canyons next plays in a non-conference doubleheader hosted by Modesto College on Saturday, March 28. 

The Cougars will first take on San Mateo College (28-0, 7-0) at 1 p.m. before a scheduled 3 p.m. game vs. Modesto (10-18, 5-9).

COC resumes conference play Tuesday, March 31, vs. Citrus College at Whitten Field.

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. 

—Photo by Valery Diaz/COC Sports Information