LATHROP – Lathrop High’s sophomore softball team jumped out on the Sonora Wildcats with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but would need some late-game heroics to outlast the visiting Wildcats for their 5-3 Valley Oak League win Tuesday.

Lathrop (5-9 VOL, 6-15 overall) needed a three run sixth inning to pull back in the lead, and closed off a Sonora rally in the final frame when Brianna Lopez got a huge strikeout and a pop-up with the bases loaded to secure the Spartans’ fifth victory of the league season.

Lopez went the distance for the Spartans, striking out nine in the win. Jocelyn Tara went 2 for 3 for Lathrop, while teammate Dahlia Medina smashed a 2-RBI triple to help the cause.

Lathrop will be back on the diamond at 4 p.m. when they travel to Manteca to take on the Buffaloes.

The Buffaloes got a dominant pitching performance to cruise past the Cougars 12-2 in VOL action Tuesday.

Mikey Matthews and Alex Martinez teamed up for a no hitter and Matthews helped his cause, going 3 for 4 at the plate with an RBI. Matthews also came around to score three times for Manteca.

Danny Gouveia also was 3 for 4, while teammate Anthony Cota finished the contest 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Gouveia also scored twice and drove in two.

The Timberwolves were able to put things away for good when Austin Acker capped an eight-run Sierra fifth inning with a grand slam in their VOL win Tuesday.

Sierra got a 3 for 3 performance from Acker, including three runs scored and six RBIs. Dominic Alejandre went 2 for 3 with two runs and a RBI, while Rodrigo Contreras went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored. Brett Wilson helped Sierra’s cause with three RBIs and two runs scored on his 1 for 4 afternoon.

The two clubs will meet up again Thursday at Sierra High.