The Cosumnes River Hawks Softball team (CRC) opened the 2023 season going 1-3 at the Lobo Classic hosted by Monterey Peninsula College on January 26-27. After a 5-2 win versus Feather River College, the Hawks dropped their next three, two in heart-breaking fashion.

In the season opener, the Hawks mounted a furious comeback in the seventh inning to win 5-2.  CRC was down early after giving up one run in the first and another in the fourth. However in the seventh, Tamisha McBride started the inning with a bunt single, and Anjalina Dahdouh earned a walk. Layla Towner scored both with a three-run homer. The Hawks tacked on two more after a single by Tori Ochoa and a double by Sophia Ortiz. Both scored on a single from Trinity Jordan. Jordan also earned the win with holding Feather river to one earned run with five strikeouts.

CRC could not maintain the momentum, dropping game two to Monterey Peninsula (MPC). Dahdouh, McBride, and Faith Catario scored for the Hawks to even the game in the fourth. However, MPC scored the game winning run in the sixth.

Game three was another close gut-wrenching affair-up. CRC jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first. Ochoa tripled to score Dahdouh, and scored on a throwing error. A Towner double plated Ortiz and Emily Johnson added a fourth run on and sacrifice by Fuentes. Towner scored on a McBride single pushing the lead to 5-0. Unfortunately, that was all the offense CRC could muster as Feather River clawed back into the game with a run in the fifth and four more in the seventh. They scored the game-winner in the ninth.

A drained Hawk squad was little match for MPC in the tournament finale losing 8-2. Dahdouh scored in the first and Ortiz hit a home run in the seventh, but it was not enough to overcome seven runs on 11 Lobo hits.

"No doubt about it, we had a tough weekend," said head coach Kristy Schroeder. "We hit okay, but we needed to string more hits together. We also did not defend very well, and we need to help our pitchers out. It's early and we will bounce back."

The Hawks return to action Tuesday with a double header at Solano College.