49ers open BVC slates with victories

After finishing its nonconference slate without a victory, the Yuba College softball team picked the perfect time to see its bats to come to life.

Taking on visiting Mendocino in the Bay Valley Conference opener on Tuesday afternoon in Linda, the 49ers erupted for 28 runs over two games and swept the Eagles in a doubleheader to earn their first two wins of the season.

Dusty Steele led the way for Yuba in a 13-5 victory in the opener as the Lindhurst High product finished 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Isabelle Rivera went 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored once, and Stephanie Benton drove in two runs and scored another.

Rivera also earned the win in the circle, striking out seven in a game that was called after five innings due to the eight-run rule.

The 49ers followed up their first victory of the year by cruising past Mendocino for an easy 15-6 win in another five-inning game in game two. Steele led the charge offensively once again, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, RBI and four runs scored.

Emily Hicks went 2 for 4 with four RBIs, Shyanne Norris scored four times, and Magdalena Gonzalez and Anjelica Cisneros both went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Cisneros also smacked a double, while Hicks stuck out three and didn’t walk a batter to pick up the win in the circle.

Yuba (2-11, 2-0 BVC) will take a break from conference play by traveling to San Mateo for a doubleheader on Saturday.

BASEBALL Yuba 8, Laney 7, 10 inn. In Linda – Colusa High product Carter Cunningham knocked home Andrew Schnitzius with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to propel the 49ers to a walk-off victory over the defending conference champion Eagles in the BVC opener at Engelken Field.

Alec Garrett came through with a clutch pinch-hit, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

Darrel Doll belted a solo home run off of the scoreboard in right-center field in the third inning and Keith Dougherty finished 2 for 2 with two RBIs in the win. Taylor Doyle and Eddy Cruz added two hits each.

Yuba (6-11, 1-0) travels to Oakland to play Laney on Thursday. The 49ers will then return home to host the Eagles on Saturday in the series finale.