Raiders Fall to Cardinals in Extra Innings

The Pierce College Raiders softball team put up a gutsy fight in a high-scoring showdown against the Skagit Valley Cardinals, ultimately falling 16-13 in eight innings. The back-and-forth contest was filled with momentum swings, clutch hitting, and gritty determination from both teams.

Skagit Valley came out swinging, scoring three runs in the top of the first, but Pierce quickly answered with two in the bottom half. The Cardinals tacked on runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings, while the Raiders chipped away with one in the fifth and a big five-run surge in the sixth to keep things tight. Skagit looked to seal it with five runs in the top of the seventh, but Pierce rallied again, scoring three to tie the game and send it to extras.

In the top of the eighth, Skagit struck for another five runs. The Raiders mounted one last push in the bottom half, plating two more runs, but the comeback came up just short as the Cardinals closed it out.

Nola Reily had a standout performance with three runs, three hits, two RBI, a walk, and two stolen bases. Amelia Lopez added two runs, a hit, an RBI, and a stolen base. Kayla Jarreau knocked a double, drove in three, and added a sac fly. Emma Loera contributed two runs, two hits, a walk, and a stolen base. Taylor Smith added a run, a hit, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.

Game two of the doubleheader was postponed due to rain and field conditions and will be rescheduled later in the season.