Cougars sweep home doubleheader from Ohlone

TAFT – Freshman Alicia Pompa went a combined 5 for 9 with 4 RBI to lead Taft College at the plate in a pair of non-conference victories over visiting Ohlone College on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars took Game 1 by a final score of 11-3 in five innings and completed the doubleheader sweep with a 7-3 win to cap the day.

TC banged out 11 hits in the mercy-rule win and took advantage of four Ohlone errors for the 11-3 victory. Taft scored at least one run in every inning, and closed out the contest with a four-run, fifth-inning.

Pompa had the blow in the inning, a two-run double as part of a 3 for 4 game with 3 RBI.

Kiley Lyons (2 for 2, RBI) and Genesis Acosta (2 for 2, 2 runs) both had two hits each for the Cougars. Alexis Garay earned the win in the circle, tossing five innings while allowing 3 runs and 8 hits.

Taft held off a late Ohlone rally to pick up the 7-3 win in the finale.

The Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the third to go out in front 4-0. But the Renegades scored twice in the fifth to cut TC's lead in half.

Taft responded with a run in the fifth off an RBI double from Anne Procell and scored two final runs in the sixth, getting run-scoring singles from Pompa and Emma Silva.

The Cougars totaled 10 hits, including two from Garay (2 for 4, run) and Pompa (2 for 4, RBI, run). Silva went the distance to pick up the win. She allowed 3 runs and 9 hits over 7 innings and struck out eight.

With the victories, Taft improved to 6-14 overall. The Cougars return to action on Tuesday (Mar. 8) when they open Central Valley Conference play by hosting Merced College in a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.