Cougars Split Doubleheader at Reedley Behind 18-9 Offensive Outburst in Game 2

Taft College split a road doubleheader at Reedley College on March 10, dropping the opener 5-3 before responding with a 21-hit, 18-9 victory in Game 2 at the Reedley campus complex. The Tigers used a steady offensive push and a complete-game effort in the circle to take the first matchup, but the Cougars' lineup answered emphatically in the second game, erupting for five runs in the fourth inning and seven more in the fifth to secure the split.

In Game 1, Taft struck first in the top of the first inning when Katelynn Moore reached on an error, stole second and later came home on a sacrifice fly from Cadence Mizener for a 1-0 lead. Reedley answered with two unearned runs in the second, capitalizing on a defensive miscue and a steal of home to move in front, 2-1. The Tigers added a sacrifice fly in the third and tacked on two more runs in the fourth on an RBI play and a run-scoring double to build what proved to be a decisive 5-1 cushion.

The Cougars continued to pressure in the late innings of the opener. Moore drove in a run with a groundout in the fifth to trim the deficit to 5-2, and in the sixth Mizener singled and later scored on a groundout from Keiara Santos to pull Taft within 5-3. Taft brought the tying run to the plate in the final frames but could not break through against Reedley starter Mia Castillo, who worked a complete game, allowing just four hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts over 7.0 innings.

Taft starter Jada Mizener kept the Cougars within striking distance throughout Game 1, throwing 6.0 innings and limiting Reedley to six hits. Only three of the Tigers' five runs were earned as the Cougars' defense was charged with a single error while trying to navigate several pressure situations. Offensively, Moore provided a spark at the top of the order with a hit, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base as Taft finished with three runs on four hits and left five runners on base.

Game 2 turned into an offensive showcase for Taft, which posted 18 runs on 21 hits while forcing Reedley to use its full pitching staff. The Cougars scored in each of the first three innings and led 3-1 before breaking the game open with a five-run fourth highlighted by a run-producing single from Cadence Mizener and a two-RBI double from Jasmine Estrada. Reedley countered with a seven-run bottom of the fourth, keyed by a three-run home run from Angelina Castellanos, to briefly seize momentum in a back-and-forth inning.

Taft immediately answered in the fifth, reclaiming control with a seven-run frame that put the Cougars back in front for good as part of an 18-9 final. The lineup continued to add insurance with three more runs in the seventh, including an RBI single in the late surge. The Cougars also took advantage of Reedley's defensive struggles, as the Tigers committed seven errors while Taft drew seven walks and stranded 14 runners, consistently applying pressure throughout the contest.

At the top of the order, Keona Comilang set the tone in the nightcap by going 5-for-6, scoring five runs and swiping a base. Estrada matched Comilang with five hits of her own, driving in five runs and collecting three doubles to anchor the middle of the lineup. Mizener added two hits, including a double, three runs and three RBI, while Jazzy Juarez turned in a three-hit, three-RBI performance with a double and two walks. In the circle, Taft used starter Mischa Mott and reliever Mizener to navigate Reedley's big fourth inning and close out the final three frames, enabling the offense to carry the Cougars to a convincing Game 2 win.

The split at Reedley sends Taft out of the doubleheader with a productive day at the plate and momentum from an 18-run performance heading into the remainder of its March schedule. The Cougars' ability to respond to an opening-game loss with a high-powered offensive effort in the second contest provided a key early-season road result against a conference opponent.