LOCKING DOWN THE 2024 OEC TITLE!
The No. 1 in state Hornets are now the 2024 Orange Empire Conference champions after defeating Riverside City College at home Thursday afternoon enforcing the mercy-rule 11-0.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
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3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | X | 11 | 6 | 1 |
The No. 1 in state Hornets are now the 2024 Orange Empire Conference champions after defeating Riverside City College at home Thursday afternoon enforcing the mercy-rule 11-0.
Fullerton last brought home the OEC title in 2021 while coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks the second championship for the Hornets under Head Coaches Crystal Aguirre and Marian "Speedy" Mendoza. It is the first time since the 1974 season under FC Hall of Famer Colleen Riley that the team went undefeated while solidifying the first-place standing at 17-0. Prior to 2021, FC won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001 with Coach Crystal Aguirre playing on the team under head coach Lisa Bassi.
After winning game one at RCC 11-1 on Tuesday, the Hornets brought the same energy into game two scoring three runs in the first, seven in the second, and one in the third for the five-inning mercy.
FC's Macy Brandl earned the win tossing 5 innings of one-hit softball with no runs, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
Three Hornets had a multi-RBI game in Jianna Lopez (3), Haley Garcia (2), and Coco Siono (2). Lopez was the lone batter with a multi-hit game with two.
Fullerton achieving its 30th win on Tuesday, marks the first time since 2019 that the Hornets hit the 30-win season mark. Led by Aguirre and Mendoza, the 2019 squad finished 38-9 and ended the season 4th in state.
Up Next: The No. 1 Hornets (31-3 overall, 17-0 OEC) will play the third and final game of the OEC series at Riverside City College this Friday, April 19th at 2:00 pm.
*Photo by Jayden Babineau
