River Valley senior Emylee Hull (7) scores a run in the Falcons’ win over Live Oak on March 26. Photo by Steven Bryla

LIVE OAK, CA (YSBC) - The River Valley Falcons softball team beat the Live Oak Lions in a cross-section matchup on Thursday, March 26 in a 9-5 victory.

River Valley came into the matchup looking to avoid a losing streak as they dropped their two-previous games of Foothill Valley League play against Roseville and Del Campo.

Live Oak sophomore pitcher Melina Jurado was locked in the circle as she retired seven out of the first eight Falcons in the loss.

Lions sophomore Farrah Gomez brought in the first run of the game as she hit a hard ground ball to third that scored junior Olivia Duran in the bottom of the first and took an early 1-0 lead.

River Valley sophomore infielder Taylor Dill (8) makes a stretching catch in foul territory on March 26 during the Falcons’ victory. Photo by Steven Bryla

River Valley tied the game at the top of the third as senior infielder Kaitlyn Garcia hit a ground ball to third and scored sophomore Hailey Runyen.

Falcons freshman Marissa Widener added a runs-batted-in (RBI) single to left and River Valley had a 3-1 advantage.

Live Oak roared back in the bottom frame of the third and tied the game at three after a couple of Falcons’ defensive miscues.

River Valley put up four runs in the fourth after they connected on multiple hits and capitalized on multiple errors by the Lions.

River Valley senior Kaitlyn Garcia (13) connects for a base hit on March 26 in the Falcons' victory against Live Oak. Photo by Steven Bryla

Live Oak ended with eight errors in the loss and head coach Kevin Medeiros told Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that was the big difference maker in the loss.

Mederios added that he has been happy with the way the Lions are approaching the plate and attacking the ball.

Live Oak senior pitcher Sarah Jupina relieved Jurado in the fourth in the circle and went the final 3 ⅔ innings of the game.

Jupina surrendered two runs off of two hits and struck out four in the loss. She added two hits from the batters box in the loss.

The Lions cut the deficit 7-4 in the bottom half of the fourth but after the Falcons added a couple more runs in the sixth and seventh, Live Oak didn’t have enough.

River Valley junior pitcher Khloe Harrison (1) tosses a pitch on March 26 during the Falcons’ win against Live Oak. Photo by Steven Bryla

River Valley head coach Taylor Pack told YSBC that the Falcons are looking to bounce back into FVL play and compete for a league title.

River Valley has been without sophomore pitcher Apple Ward since she was injured on March 17.

The Falcons’ ace has been present in the dugout in high spirits and Pack expressed that she hopes to get Ward back when she is healthy.

River Valley junior Khloe Harrison has filled in for Ward.

Harrison pitched six innings of relief in the circle for the Falcons in the win over Live Oak where she gave up four runs off seven hits.

The Falcons hosted Nevada Union in the next part of FVL play on Tuesday.

The Lions opened Westside League play on Thursday, and  they are scheduled to host the Las Plumas Thunderbirds with first pitch set for 4 p.m.