Cougars Split Road Doubleheader at Siskiyous Behind Explosive Offensive Finish

Lassen College battled through a dramatic extra-inning opener before responding with a dominant offensive performance to split a conference doubleheader against College of the Siskiyous on March 21. After falling 2-1 in a tightly contested first game, the Cougars erupted for 14 hits in the nightcap to roll to an 11-2 victory and leave Weed with momentum heading deeper into conference play.

Cougars Drop Heartbreaker in Extra Innings

Lassen opened the day with a pitching duel that stretched into extra innings before Siskiyous escaped with a 2-1 win. Lauren Emery turned in a strong performance in the circle, allowing just one earned run over 7.1 innings while holding Siskiyous to five hits. The freshman kept the Cougars in control throughout most of the afternoon, working efficiently and forcing weak contact all game long.

Offensively, Lassen consistently put runners on base but struggled to capitalize in key moments. Taylor Lauritsen and Abby Robles each collected two hits, while Lilinoe Kuhaulua-Leong scored the Cougars’ lone run. Nadia Velazquez also added a hit and walk from the leadoff spot as Lassen finished with seven hits overall.

The game remained scoreless until the second inning when Kuhaulua-Leong reached base and eventually came around to score to give Lassen a 1-0 advantage. Emery protected that lead into the seventh inning before Siskiyous tied the game and later walked it off in the eighth. Despite the tough loss, the Cougars showed strong defense and composure throughout a tightly contested conference battle.

Lassen Explodes for 14 Hits in Bounce-Back Win

The Cougars answered immediately in game two with one of their best offensive performances of the season, pounding out 14 hits in an 11-2 victory. Lassen broke the game open with a six-run third inning and never looked back, overwhelming Siskiyous with pressure from top to bottom in the lineup.

Nadia Velazquez sparked the offense with a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Lilinoe Kuhaulua-Leong added two hits and two RBIs, while Tristyn Lenz collected two doubles and drove in a pair of runs herself. Jhan'z Kaawa-Kawai, Jenna Ku, Taylor Lauritsen, Emma Wayas, Zoey Heffelfinger, and Alyssa McOmie all contributed hits in the balanced offensive attack.

Ramona Ryder earned the win in the circle, throwing all six innings while allowing three runs and striking out three. Defensively, Lassen also turned a pair of double plays behind Kaawa-Kawai at first base to help limit Siskiyous opportunities. After the frustration of the opener, the Cougars responded exactly the way great teams do — with energy, resilience, and an explosive offensive statement on the road.