Chenault Homers and Hurls No-Hitter, Hancock Sweeps Cuesta to Extend Winning Streak to 17

Chenault Homers and Hurls No-Hitter, Hancock Sweeps Cuesta to Extend Winning Streak to 17
March 24, 2015

(Santa Maria, CA) A match-up with Central Coast rival Cuesta College, two teams unbeaten in Western State Conference play, was all Bulldogs in the end. The Allan Hancock College softball team swept a doubleheader taking the first game 10-0 in five innings, and the second game 7-0 due to forfeit. The Bulldogs, winners of 17 straight games, improved to 7-0 in conference and 19-2-1 overall. Cuesta dropped to 4-2 in conference and 8-12 for the season.

Sophomore pitcher Katie Chenault threw a no-hitter in the five-inning game. She struck out the side in the second and third innings and finished with 11 strikeouts. She allowed two baserunners, one on a dropped third strike in the first inning, the second on a four-pitch walk in the fourth. Chenault recorded her fifteenth game this season with 10 or more strikeouts. The state's leader in strikeouts also now has two no-hitters along with a perfect game this season.

Chenault put the Bulldogs on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to center field, her third home run of the season. The Bulldogs erupted for seven runs and sent 12 hitters to the plate in the third inning. Highlights included a RBI-triple and two-run single from Michaela Valencia, a two-run double by Judith Salazar, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jessica Rothanzl. The Bulldogs added two more in the fourth on a two-run double by Salazar, her second of the game. The freshman center fielder and Righetti High School graduate leads the team and the Western State Conference with 33 RBI, one more than Rothanzl.

The Bulldogs finished with five hits, two apiece by Valencia and Salazar, and one from Chenault. Valencia had three RBI and Salazar, who had seven RBI in a game last week, added four.

Freshman catcher Teanna Silveira scored once, walked, and drove in a run when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third. The Righetti High School graduate has now reached base in nine consecutive plate appearances, including back-to-back 3 for 3 games at L.A. Pierce last week.  

Cuesta was forced to forfeit the second game because the Cougars would have only had eight players. One player left the first game due to an injury. A second Cougar had to leave due to a prior academic engagement.
Hancock continues its three-game home stand on Thursday, March 26, against Oxnard. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Oxnard started the week 2-3 in conference and 4-13 overall.