SACRAMENTO — Second-seeded East Union came out swinging Tuesday against No. 15 American Canyon.

The result of that was a comfortable 19-0 five-inning victory in opening round of Sac-Joaquin Section Division III softball playoffs.

East Union coach Brian Goulart did not leave anything to chance after hearing that his fellow Valley Oak League teams Manteca and Oakdale were ousted with earlier losses at Sacramento Softball Complex.

“I told our girls to swing the bats,” he said.

They did just that, pounding out 19 hits led by junior catcher Samantha Owen, who went 4 for 4 with a home run and five RBI.

“I saw the ball real well today,” she said.

As usual, centerfielder Cherish Burks set tone by reaching base safely.

“It helped us jump to the early lead,”she said. “With that great start, our defense was able relax.

“Our pitcher was able to relax.”

The Lancers (25-2 overall) were in good hands with junior hurler Mikayla Bongi, who limited the Wolves to just two hits while fanning five in three innings of work.

American Canyon (14-13) had an equally tough time against East Union sophomore pitcher Delaney Pamplin, who retired the side in order upon making her appearance in the fourth.

By then, the Lancers had staked out their huge lead, batting around in the first and third innings.

Burks led off with a walk in the first, scooting to third on Michelle Castro’s infield hit and scoring on Owen’s two-run single.

Alexis Erich plated Owen to make it 3-0.

Taylor Ward and Alejandra Rascon followed suit with consecutive singles. Both scored along with Deja Guzman, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

Just like that, East Union had a 6-0 advantage.

Owen led off the second with high-flying shot over straight away center field.

“I didn’t think it was going to be a home run at first,” she said.

Erich, who was 3 for 3 with three RBI, blasted a triple and scored on Ward’s fielder’s choice.

The Lancers made it 9-0 when Rascon came home on an error.

East Union broke the game wide open in the third,  scoring 10 runs highlighted by Erich’s two-run homer.

The Lancers return to action on Friday, facing Lincoln of Placer County at 5 p.m