No. 4 Bulldogs Sweep Doubleheader at Oxnard to Extend Winning Streak to 31, Rothanzl Sets RBI Record

The Allan Hancock College softball team swept a doubleheader at Oxnard 11-0 and 11-2, both lasted five innings, on Tuesday to complete a perfect run through Western State Conference play and extend its winning streak to 31 straight games. The Bulldogs, who are ranked fourth in the state, ended the regular season 33-2-1 overall. The Western State Conference champions were a perfect 15-0 in conference to become the first team since 2000, and the seventh all-time to go undefeated in the league since the WSC introduced softball in 1981. The 1998 Hancock team went 16-0 in WSC games.

Oxnard finished the 2015 season 4-11 in league and 6-25 overall.

In the opener, Hancock scored three in the first inning. Sophomore first baseman Jessica Rothanzl singled home Megan Love with the first run of the game and scored on a double by shortstop Missy Regalado, who later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Judith Salazar. The Bulldogs added five more in the second. Regalado delivered a two-run double, Katie Chenault hit a sacrifice fly and Gianna Abatti delivered a two-run double to make it 8-0 Hancock. Love added a RBI-single in the fourth and Rothanzl capped the scoring with a two-run single in the fifth.  

Rothanzl's two-run knock broke the program record for most RBI in a single-season. She surpassed the previous record of 55 RBI set in 2012 by current assistant coach Caitlin Voss. The Cal State Northridge recruit already broke Voss' record for most career RBI and career doubles earlier this season.

Rothanzl, Regalado, catcher Teanna Silveira, Abatti and Love had two hits apiece in the opener as Hancock outhit the Condors 12 to one. Rothanzl and Regalado had 3 RBI each in the opener. Abatti, who missed 20 games due to an injury, extended her streak to six straight games with at least one hit and one RBI.

Chenault struck out nine in the opener to earn the win. She was perfect through four innings, but allowed a one-out single in the fifth to finish with a one-hit shutout.

Oxnard scored twice in the bottom of the first in the second game to take a brief 2-1 lead. The leadoff hitter scored on a four-base error on a fly ball to center field, while Chenault surrendered a single and a two-out double to put the Condors ahead 2-1. However, the Bulldogs responded with three in the second and seven in the fourth to take control. Chenault did not allow another base runner the rest of the game and retired the final 13 hitters she faced. The sophomore racked up seven strikeouts and allowed two hits. She finished the regular season with 369 strikeouts and needs one more strikeout to tie the program record she set last year and two in the postseason to break her own mark. Chenault, who leads the state in strikeouts, owns the sixth and seventh most strikeouts in a single-season in California history. Katie Cotta of San Joaquin Delta set the record of 459 strikeouts in 2011. Chenault also earned her 32^nd win, which is tied for ninth most in state history.

Hancock outhit the Condors 10 to two in the second game. Silveira led the way with three hits and 2 RBI. Love had two hits, 3 RBI, three stolen bases and scored twice. Freshman third baseman Ashley Ruiz went 2 for 2 with 2 RBI, 2 walks and one walk. Rothanzl and Regalado each drove in two runs in the second game.  Rothanzl finished the regular season with 58 RBI and 111 in her Bulldog career.

The Bulldogs must now wait for the Regional Playoff pairings to be released on Saturday, April 25. Hancock will likely host a first round Regional, which will start on Saturday, May 2. Hancock was ranked fourth in the state and third in the Southern California Regional rankings that were released last week.

Last season during the program's first postseason appearance in 14 years, Hancock was seeded No. 12 and lost in two games to fifth seeded Citrus in the Regionals.