The 2020 West Hills College Coalinga softball season got off to a rough start as the Falcons suffered a pair of losses on opening-day at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. West Hills was swept in a doubleheader, falling 18-6 in five innings in Game 1 and 9-1 in a six-inning game to close out Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore Alyssa Cota went a combined 4 for 6 at the plate over the two games, leading West Hills with a pair of doubles and 4 RBI.
The Falcons got off to an excellent start, putting up three runs in the top of the first inning in the opening game. Nia Armbrister smacked a two-run double to score Chloe McDaniel and Madison Redding before Abbie Nodal singled home Armbrister to give West Hills an early lead.
But that didn't last long as the Bulldogs put up three runs in the bottom of the first to tie it up and went on to score five runs in the second, four in the third, and six more in the fourth to secure their victory.
Cota drove in West Hills' final three runs. She laced an RBI single in the third to drive in Armbrister and added a two-run double in the fifth that scored Armbrister and Redding.
Cota went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and team-high 3 RBI for the Falcons. Armbrister also went 2 for 3 while scoring three runs and driving in a pair.
Redding went a perfect 3 for 3 and scored twice. But she wasn't as fortunate in the circle for the Falcons. She took the loss, allowing nine earned runs and 10 hits over four innings.
West Hills had a tougher time at the plate in Game 2 as the Falcons managed just three hits off Allan Hancock pitcher Alexis Porter.
Cota drove in the Falcons' lone run of the contest, smacking a RBI single in the top of the first to bring home Redding. Cota went 2 for 3 while Redding had West Hills' other hit.
Redding again took the loss in the second game, allowing nine earned runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
The Falcons (0-2) will look to pick up their first win when they return to action on Thursday (Feb. 6), hosting Gavilan College in a non-conference doubleheader that begins at noon.