The Colleges : Cypress, Riverside Take 31 Innings to Score 1 Run

Cypress College scored a run in the top of the 31st inning to defeat Riverside, 1-0, and end the longest softball game in the history of the Orange Empire Conference Wednesday at Riverside.

The game started at 3 p.m. and ended at 9:06. Riverside has the only softball diamond in the conference with lights.

Cypress finally scored on an RBI single by Dee Shephard.

Priscilla Villagomez hit a ground-ball single to left to open the 31st for Cypress. But Stephanie Amundson flied to center for the first out. With Sue Boxley hitting, Villagomez stole second.

Boxley grounded to shortstop for the second out, with Villagomez staying at second. Then Shephard singled to center. There could have been a play at home, but center fielder Cynthia Serna’s throw hit short of the plate and bounced off the Riverside catcher.

Shephard, a sophomore catcher, was 2 for 10 with two walks and a sacrifice bunt. Boxley and Sandy Alvarino were both 3 for 13.

Sandy Mathis, who took the loss, pitched all 31 innings for Riverside (5-5, 1-2). She had 8 strikeouts and 4 walks.

Cypress, which had 18 hits, left 20 runners on base. Riverside left eight runners.

Noel Parker pitched the first 12 innings and Colleen Moore (6-2) the final 19 for Cypress. Parker had 11 strikeouts and Moore 15. They limited Riverside to eight hits. Riverside made four errors and Cypress one.

Cypress hitters were 18 for 103; Riverside was 8 for 100.

“We only have two pitchers, so that was all we could use,” said Brad Pickler, Cypress coach. “It was unbelievable. It just kept going. We had plenty of chances to score but just didn’t until the 31st.”

Cypress had the bases loaded in the 14th inning, and Riverside had runners on second and third with one out in the 26th.

Cypress (11-6, 3-0) remains in a first-place tie with Saddleback.

“We are not going to have practice tomorrow (Thursday),” Pickler said. “What’s there left to practice? Everything that could have happened did.”