MARAUDER BATS STYMIED BY CANYONS' RUSSO

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

VALENCIA - The Marauder softball team had a difficult time figuring out College of the Canyons' pitcher Ashley Russo.

Russo was like an enigma to AVC hitters, as she allowed only three hits while striking out five in the Cougars' 4-1 victory in the Western States Conference opener for both teams, Thursday afternoon at College of the Canyons.

Of AVC's three hits, two came off the bat of Dolly Stevens, who was 2-for-4. Priscella Panizo was the other Marauder player to collect a hit and the only RBI of the day, when she singled in Destinee Medrano in the top of the sixth inning with AVC trailing 3-0 at that point.

At one point in the game, Russo retired 11 of 13 batters, the only two bases runner came from a single by Stevens and a walk to Erica Serfoss.