The Sierra College softball team lost its first game against Cosumnes River College 2-1 on Friday, but bounced back to win two straight on Saturday to advance to the 2023 CCCAA Softball State Championship.

In the first game on Friday, CRC scored in the fourth inning following two Sierra errors and added another in the sixth with a solo home run by Alina Fuentes. Down 2-0, the Wolverines got their bats going in the seventh with a single by Faith Matis followed by a double by Jazzy Smith. Haleigh Barlow hit an RBI single to bring Matis home, but the Wolverines were not able to score the tying run. 

This set up a win-or-go-home scenario for Sierra on Saturday and in the first game of the weekend, the Wolverines won 7-0. Arianna De La Loza pitched six innings and only allowed two hits while striking out three batters in the contest. At the plate, Kendal Manley hit a two-run triple and also had a sac fly. Maddy Redinger had two RBIs and a double.

With the series tied 1-1 and the score tied 2-2 in the fourth inning of game three, the Wolverines scored two runs in the bottom of the inning followed by another in the fifth and never looked back winning 6-3. Matis, Redinger, Smith, Barlow and Eli Enriquez each had an RBI in the game while Amaya Sutton struck out six in six innings of work. 

The win will advance Sierra to the State Championship for the second consecutive season where they will play Cerritos on Thursday. The Wolverines will need to win a minimum of four games to capture its second state title in program history. Other teams at state include the hosts Mt. SAC, San Jose City College, Palomar College, Folsom Lake College, College of San Mateo and Cypress College.