No. 10 Hancock Softball Crushes Ventura 10-2 in Conference Opener Behind Valencia and Chenault

Katie Chenault carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and Michaela Valencia slugged a grand slam as part of a seven-run third inning during the Allan Hancock College softball team's 10-2 win in five innings over visiting Ventura on Thursday afternoon. The victory, the Bulldogs' eighth straight win, improved Hancock's record to 10-2-1 overall and 1-0 in Western State Conference play. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 10 in the latest Southern California Regional Coaches Poll. Ventura dropped to 0-1 in league and 5-12 for the season after falling to the defending Western State Conference champions. 

Chenault hit two batters in the top of the first, but cruised until allowing back-to-back doubles to start the fifth inning. The reigning WSC Conference Pitcher of the Year struck out two or more Pirates in all five innings, including fanning the side in the second and fourth frames. The Righetti High School graduate struck out 12 and allowed three hits and two runs over five innings.

The Bulldogs scored in the bottom of the first inning against Ventura pitcher Alexis White. Megan Love, Jessica Rothanzl and Chenault delivered three straight singles. Chenault was credited with the RBI when Love scored. Hancock added to its lead in the second when Ashley Ruiz led off with a single and moved to second on an error by the Ventura shortstop on a popup from Monique Hoobery. Teanna Silveira laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners with one out. Valencia hit a sacrifice fly to center field to allow Ruiz to tag and score from third to make it 2-0 Bulldogs. Love followed with a slap single over the drawn-in shortstop's head to plate Hoobery and make it 3-0 Bulldogs.

Hancock erupted for seven runs in the third inning. Hoobery, a freshman, delivered a two-run single off the left field wall with the bases loaded to make it 5-0 Hancock. After Silveira was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Valencia drove a 3-2 pitch over the left-center field wall for a grand slam. The sophomore finished with 5 RBI in the game after she clubbed her third home run of the season to give the Bulldogs a 9-0 advantage. Two batters later, Rothanzl crushed one over the left field wall, her third home run of the season, to cap the Hancock offense.

The Bulldogs finished with 10 hits. Love and Rothanzl had two hits apiece. Eight of the nine Hancock starters collected at least one basehit.

Hancock returns to action next Tuesday, March 10, with a doubleheader against Moorpark.