Santa Rosa Hands San José Lopsided Loss in Doubleheader Opener

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Santa Rosa erupted for five runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating San José City College 9-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday at Santa Rosa.

Mia Avila was the story for the Bear Cubs, going the distance in the circle while also providing the offensive highlight of the afternoon — a solo home run to center field in the sixth inning that capped the scoring. Avila allowed five hits and one unearned run over six complete innings, striking out three and walking none.

San José (SJCC) struck first when Makenna Sieling singled to left field in the top of the first, scoring DJ Martínez to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead. The lead was short-lived.

Santa Rosa answered with a five-spot in the bottom of the first that effectively decided the contest. Brianna Allen scored on a wild pitch, Avila scored on a throwing error, Kaihla Jarvinen plated Avila with a double to left, and Ava Raines followed with a two-run double that made it 5-1. Raines finished with two RBI on the day.

The Bear Cubs added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before Avila's home run provided the final margin.

Sieling took the loss for San José, surrendering five runs — four earned — while recording just two outs. She was charged with three wild pitches. Alia Casarez came on in relief and threw 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on five hits.

Jarvinen went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Santa Rosa, while Kylee Bauman reached base twice, scored twice, and added a stolen base. Avila also swiped a base.

For San José, Sieling drove in the team's lone run, and Quistian added a double. The Jaguars managed just five hits on the afternoon and left nine runners on base.

San José returns to action in game two of the doubleheader.