Out of the 31 games played on the opening day of the 2018 community college softball season, at least eight were shutouts.

Two of those shutouts and the only reported no hitter belonged to the Reedley College Tigers, who swept the Gavilan College Rams by scores of 9-0 and 10-0. Both Friday contests were called in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.

In the opener, sophomore Lauren Costa (Reedley High) pitched a three-hit shutout while sophomore Jess Vegley (Mariposa) smashed a grand slam home run. At the plate, Costa helped her own cause with a single and a double while freshman Annika  Castellanos (Hanford West) had two singles.

In the nightcap, freshman Emily Grimbleby (Sierra) pitched a five-inning no-hitter. A ground ball was originally scored a base hit but after a discussion was changed to an error.  It was one of only two errors charged to the Tigers in the two contests. Grimbleby struck out six, walked three and hit a batter in the gem.

Offensively, Reedley took advantage of two Gavilan errors, two walks and two hit batters in the bottom of the first to score six runs. Sophomore Julia Jimenez (Reedley) drove in three runs with a second inning solo homer and a two-run double in the third.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 1 in San Luis Obispo against Cuesta before home doubleheaders on Feb. 6, 10 and 16.

By Will Goldbeck