Falcons Battle Through Three-Game Homestand Against Cabrillo and San Mateo
The Folsom Lake College Falcons faced a demanding three-game stretch at home, hosting Cabrillo College Seahawks for a doubleheader on Friday before closing the weekend against College of San Mateo Bulldogs on Saturday. Despite mixed results, the Falcons showed resilience, timely offense, and strong individual performances throughout the series.
Game 1 – Cabrillo 5, Folsom Lake 4 (Feb. 13)
Cabrillo jumped out early with a four-run first inning, but the Falcons immediately responded. Melanie Stephens drove in the first run with an RBI single, followed by a clutch two-run double from Marianna Prieto to cut the deficit to one.
Folsom Lake tied the game in the second inning when Sophia Nielsen tripled and drove in Sarah Richards, evening the score at 4–4. Strong relief pitching from Kiley Shea, who allowed just one unearned run over 6.2 innings, kept the Falcons within striking distance. Cabrillo managed the go-ahead run in the fourth, and despite matching hits at seven apiece, Folsom Lake came up just short in a tightly contested opener.
Game 2 – Folsom Lake 5, Cabrillo 3 (Feb. 13)
The Falcons bounced back in the nightcap with an early offensive surge. After Cabrillo scored twice in the top of the first, Folsom Lake answered with four runs of their own, highlighted by a three-run home run from Marianna Prieto that energized the dugout and home crowd.
Sarah Habkirk was dominant in the circle, pitching a complete game and limiting Cabrillo to three runs on seven hits. An RBI from Caton Strieff in the fourth inning proved to be the difference, sealing a well-earned split of the doubleheader.
Game 3 – San Mateo 10, Folsom Lake 1 (Feb. 14)
Saturday's finale against San Mateo featured another tough challenge, as the Bulldogs capitalized early with a five-run first inning. Folsom Lake continued to battle, collecting eight hits and finally breaking through in the sixth when Mariah Aguiling delivered an RBI single to score Brooklyn Denina.
Despite the final score, the Falcons showed fight at the plate and gained valuable experience against a strong San Mateo lineup. Denina and Hailey Permenter each recorded multi-hit performances to lead the offense.
Looking Ahead
The three-game homestand tested the Falcons' depth and perseverance, but the team responded with competitive play and moments of offensive spark and pitching strength. As the season continues, Folsom Lake will look to build on Friday's bounce-back win and carry that momentum into upcoming conference action.