Taft College Cougars overpower LA Valley in doubleheader sweep

Taft College opened its home slate in dominant fashion Tuesday, sweeping a doubleheader from Los Angeles Valley College with run-rule wins of 12-0 and 12-3 at the TC Softball Field. A fast start in Game 1 and a sustained power surge in Game 2 keyed the Cougars, who piled up 27 hits across the twinbill while holding the Monarchs to a combined seven.

The opener was effectively decided in the first inning, as Taft sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs on its way to a 12-0, five-inning victory. The Cougars added two more runs in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth, building a 12-0 lead and eliminating the need to bat in the bottom of the fifth. Taft finished with 15 hits and 11 RBI in support of starter J Jada Mizener, who went the distance in the circle.

Mizener scattered four hits over 5.0 shutout innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk to earn the win. The Cougars played clean defense behind her, committing no errors while LA Valley finished with three miscues. Offensively, Taft applied pressure throughout the lineup, swiping six bases and striking out just once against Monarchs pitchers P. Lopez and H. Lopez, who were tagged for 12 runs on 15 hits and five walks in four innings.

Mischa Mott led the Game 1 attack with three hits, including a triple, one RBI and a run scored. Jasmine Estrada collected three hits and scored twice, while Jashia Lee-Herna added two hits, two runs and an RBI. The Cougars’ extra-base production included three doubles, a triple and a home run as Taft methodically extended its lead in each of the first four frames.

Game 2 followed a similar script, with Taft again controlling play from the outset in a 12-3 win. The Cougars scored in each of the first five innings, putting up single runs in the first and fifth, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth. By the time LA Valley pushed across its three runs in the top of the fifth, Taft already held a double-digit advantage and closed out another run-rule decision in five innings.

In the circle, Mischa Mott shifted from offensive catalyst to staff ace, starting Game 2 and striking out eight over 5.0 innings. She limited LA Valley to four hits and just one earned run while working around six walks. Taft’s defense backed her with only one error, matching LA Valley’s single miscue in the nightcap. The Cougars’ pitching staff finished the doubleheader with 12.0 innings pitched, 15 strikeouts and only three runs allowed.

Taft’s lineup showcased its power in the second game, belting four home runs among 16 hits. Cadence Mizener went 3-for-? with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored to pace the offense. Keona Comilang added a home run as part of a two-hit, three-RBI performance, and K. Moore chipped in three hits, including a double, with two runs scored and one RBI. Taft again stole six bases and drove in all 12 of its runs, continuing the aggressive approach that defined the sweep.

For LA Valley, T. Macias was a bright spot in Game 2, finishing with two hits, including a double, and a run scored as the Monarchs broke through for three runs in the fifth. Over the two games, however, Taft’s combination of timely hitting, speed on the bases and strong starting pitching from Mizener and Mott proved decisive. The Cougars leave the doubleheader with a pair of convincing wins and momentum heading into the next stretch of the schedule.