Lopez tosses shutout, Rams take down Cleveland in second round of Metro Tourney

RIO RANCHO — In a rivalry war, the Rams took the first battle.

In the second round of the Metro Tournament, No. 3 Rio Rancho took down No. 6 Cleveland in a 5-0 shutout victory at Rio Rancho High School Softball Complex.

The Cleveland goose egg was all thanks to Yazmin Lopez, who tossed a complete game gem against the Storm.

In the freshman righty’s seven innings of work, Lopez struck out three while allowing just two hits. She would walk three batters as well, but that would not derail her day in the pitcher’s circle.

It is the first shutout victory of the season for Rio Rancho while also being the first time Cleveland has been held scoreless this year. 

Lilli Gomez would oppose Lopez in the circle for the electric blue. Gomez would strike out five, but six hits and five walks would be enough for the Rams to find success in the box score.

Rio Rancho took a methodical approach at the plate, moving their way through the lineup, by hit or walk, to generate runs.

A big part of the Rams’ offense were two-walk afternoons from Elenca Coca and Kianna Lambert. In the hit column, BellaRose Griego led the charge with two hits in a 2-for-3 day.

Plays like these would set the table for the bats of Maysyn Thomas, Mila Gonzales and Brielle Sandoval, who all recorded RBIs in the crosstown clash.

A smooth, clean game for the Rams was a nice change of pace in the young season. Up until the second round duel, Rio’s last six games featured at least one team posting double-digit runs. This includes a 17-7 first-round win over Rio Grande and a football score-esque loss in a 27-19 defeat to Albuquerque High.

If the Rams can find stability in their pitching, such as what the freshman Lopez found on Thursday afternoon, it could be the difference between a state tourney run and going home early.

But for now, Rio will focus on the rest of the Metro bracket, set for a meeting with No. 2 La Cueva with a trip to the finals on the line.