No. 16 Canyons Eliminates No. 2 Cerritos, Advances to Super Regional

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

CERRITOS — No. 16 College of the Canyons shook up the 3C2A Southern California Regional playoff bracket over the weekend, coming back from an opening-game loss to knock off No. 2 Cerritos College and advance to the Super Regional round.

Canyons (25-19) dropped Friday's series opener in a tight 6-4 loss. The Cougars then bounced back in a big way to take both games of Saturday's doubleheader by a 9-7 final score to eliminate Cerritos (32-11).

COC sophomore Akane Gonzalez pitched all but one inning in the series, earning a pair of wins, with her relief appearance in game two allowing the Cougars to mount their comeback bid.

Akane Gonzalez suffered the loss in the opening contest after Cerritos was able to plate five runs in a lopsided fifth inning that flipped the game in the Falcons' favor. 

COC held a 3-1 advantage heading into that decisive sequence. Jeniece Jimenez and Jasmine Soriano both hit home runs in the game as Canyons got off to a promising start before trying to rally late.

But that opening-game result was ancient history by the time Akane Gonzalez entered the circle in game two.

With the Cougars trailing 7-2 following the first frame, Akane Gonzalez went on to silence the Falcons for the next six innings. Meanwhile, COC scored runs in four of the next five innings to retake the lead.

Jordan Shepherd's two-run double put COC on the board in the first. In the next inning, Jocelyn Jimenez and Jasmine Soriano both belted home runs to get the Cougars within pouncing distance at 7-5.

Shepherd reappeared in the fourth with another two-RBI double to tie the score at 7-7. 

Yahali Gonzalez doubled in a run to put Canyons ahead 8-7 in the fifth with Krista Viereck adding the final score with her RBI single.

Jocelyn Jimenez aided the cause with three hits, three runs and an RBI. Shepherd was the leader with four RBIs.

Meanwhile, Akane Gonzalez allowed four hits and issued one walk with three strikeouts while facing 25 batters. The victory represented the first postseason win for the two-year starter out of El Camino Real Charter.

In game three, it was the Cougars using a five-run output in the seventh inning to get past the host Falcons.

Trailing 7-4, the Cougars began the inning with six consecutive hits including an RBI triple from Jeniece Jimenez and yet another RBI double from Shepherd's bat. Later in the inning Shepherd swiped home as part of a double steal to tie the game at 7-7.

Amber Phillips recorded an RBI sac-fly to move the Cougars ahead 8-7 before Belinda Lujano's RBI single made it a 9-7 ballgame.

In the bottom of the inning Akane Gonzalez (15-8) retired the Falcons in order to propel Canyons into the next round. She picked up her second win of the day while allowing seven runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Shepherd finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Soriano went 3-for-3 with a walk, adding a run and RBI. Jenice Jimenez was 3-for-4 with a double, triple, an RBI and three runs scored, including a steal of home.

Canyons takes to the road once more, this time to face No. 11 Saddleback College in a best-of-three postseason series beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, May 8.

The series continues Saturday, May 9, with game two slated for 2 p.m. If necessary, a third game will be played at 4:40 p.m.

The winner will advance to the 3C2A State Championship tournament being held May 14-17, in Bakersfield.

The Cougars are playing in a 3C2A Super Regional for the first time since the 2018 season. A full Super Regional Bracket is included here.

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 Robert Hanashiro/COC Sports Information