WARDEN - Iris Rodriguez hit two home runs and had 4 RBI to lead the Cougars to a 9-1 win over River View Monday. Rodriguez was also the winning pitcher for Warden. She struck out eight Panthers, gave up just three hits and walked two batters.

Haley Hess, the River View pitcher, fanned 13 Cougars in the losing effort.

"This was a break out game for Iris," coach Wes Richins said. "It was nice to see coming off a real good pitcher in Haley Hess. Bianca (Hernandez) called a good game behind the plate too. River View's only run was unearned in the third inning."

It took two and a half innings before the first run crossed the plate. And that was by the visiting team as they took a 1-0. The Cougars responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead 2-1. Warden put two more on the board in the bottom of the fifth, and five in the bottom of the sixth to cruise to the win.

"Tawnie Gonsalez led off with a double in the fourth inning and Iris hit a 2-run shot to give us lead," Richins said. "Iris hit a two-out double in the fifth and Bianca hit a 2-run home run to make it 4-1. Then we strung a couple hits together in the sixth that was capped off with Iris's second 2-run home run of the game."

The win improved Warden's record to 3-2 in non-league play. The Cougars opened league action against White Swan Tuesday, but the results were not available by time of press. Warden is back on the diamond when the team hosts White Swan Saturday at noon.