PORTERVILLE – Sophomore Ally Boyd smacked a three-run home run and tossed the final 5 2/3 innings of relief in a 9-6 Central Valley Conference win in eight innings over visiting West Hills College Coalinga on Tuesday.
Porterville and West Hills went on to split a pair of conference games as the Falcons edged the Pirates 3-2 in Tuesday's opening contest.
PC trailed early after allowing three runs in the bottom of the first inning (WHCC designated home team in Game 2) to West Hills but responded with a run in the second and four more in the third. With the Pirates leading 5-4 in the seventh, West Hills rallied for two runs to force extra innings.
But Porterville scored three times in the top of the eighth for the victory. Boyd closed out the win, allowing five hits and just one earned run over the final 5 2/3 innings.
Cassie Cannon (1 for 4) drove in a pair of runs with a double while Hailee Smutz went 3 for 5 with a run.
West Hills came out on top 3-2 in a narrow opening game. With the scored tied 2-2, the Falcons scored what proved to be the game-winner in the top of the sixth inning.
Smutz and Arieana Castillo drove in a run and had a double to lead PC at the plate. Boyd took the loss despite allowing two earned runs and six hits over the seven-inning effort.
Porterville moved to 9-14 overall and 3-4 in Central Valley Conference play. The Pirates return to action on Friday (Mar. 31) when they host Cerro Coso College in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
