Canyons Falls to San Mateo in Opener, Rebounds to Defeat Modesto in Doubleheader Split

College of the Canyons softball student-athletes Yahali Gonzalez and Belinda Lujano in white pinstriped uniforms and navy helmets pose on the field, one holding up a peace sign, while a scoreboard graphic on the left shows their team (Cougars) winning 17–13 over an opponent, labeled “Final.”
Box Score Box Score
March 30, 2026

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

MODESTO — College of the Canyons won the second game of its three-way doubleheader on Saturday, as the Cougars were able to rebound for a 17-13 win vs. Modesto College after falling to No. 1 state ranked College of San Mateo earlier in the day.

The 17 runs scored by Canyons (18-12, 4-2) in its winning effort represent the third-highest scoring total of the season for the Cougars, while the victory was the team's fifth across the last six contests.

Canyons used a six-run sixth inning to secure the victory after trailing 11-10 through the first five innings.

Krista Viereck, Belinda Lujano and Jocelyn Jimenez all recorded RBIs in the inning to build an unsurmountable advantage.

Lujano was the team leader with four RBIs in the game after finishing 2-for-5 with a double and pair of runs. Jocelyn Jimenez recorded three hits in her four at-bats with a walk, two runs, three stolen bases and two RBIs.

Jeniece Jimenez, Amber Phillips and Yahali Gonzalez each finished with multi-hit efforts, while Jeniece Jimenez added three runs and three RBIs. Phillips' RBI in the seventh capped the Cougars' scoring run at 17 while Jeniece Jimenez' two-run triple helped give Canyons an early 6-1 advantage in the second.

Anais Perez started the game and pitched the first two and 2/3 innings before giving way to Akane Gonzalez four the final four innings and change. Gonzalez (9-3) earned the victory despite being charged with five earned runs. She walked one and struck out four in the game. Perez was tagged with four earned runs and allowed a pair of home runs. Both pitchers were affected by the five defensive errors committed by the Cougars.

Merced (10-19, 5-9) dropped its fourth straight contest despite posting its highest run total in more than a month. Camryn Mattos and Makayla Alailima both finished with three hits in the game, with Mattos accounting for one of the two Merced home runs. Mahaila Guzman suffered the loss after allowing nine runs across three and 1/3 innings in the circle.

Canyons Falls 5-2 to No. 1 San Mateo

In the day's first action, the Cougars fell behind 3-0 before clawing back into the game behind fourth-inning RBIs from Jeniece Jimenez and Jasmine Soriano to briefly make it a 3-2 affair.

In the home half of the fourth San Mateo (30-0, 7-0) posted two more runs to retake control in what was an eventual 5-3 final score.

Gonzalez suffered the loss vs. San Mateo by allowing five runs on 10 hits and two walks. Soriano and Viereck each finished with two hits in the game.

Lola Sierra (16-0) earned the win for San Mateo with seven strikeouts alongside one walk. She allowed seven hits in the game, including four doubles.

Canyons returns to Western State Conference (WSC), South Division competition with a home game vs. Citrus College (22-9, 5-1) at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.

The Cougars begin the week third in the conference a game behind runner-up Citrus and two games off the pace of leader Antelope Valley College (21-7, 6-0) in the top spot.

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 Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information