Hancock Takes Playoff Opener 10-1, Chenault and Salazar Drive in Three Run Each

Judith Salazar hit a home run and drove in three runs, while Katie Chenault pitched a complete game and also drove in three at the plate as the Allan Hancock College softball team defeated San Diego Mesa 10-1 in five innings to open the best-of-three game series on Saturday. The Bulldogs, who are seeded second, won their 32^nd straight game and improved to 34-2-1 overall. San Diego Mesa dropped to 17-16 on the season.

The postseason victory was the first for the Western State Conference champions in nearly 20 years.

Courtney Black, the second batter of the game, clubbed a shot over the left field fence to give the Olympians a 1-0 lead against Chenault. However, the sophomore shut down the San Diego Mesa offense the rest of the way. Chenault allowed three hits in the game and did not walk a batter. She struck out four to give her 373 on the season, breaking her own school record of 370 from last season.

The Righetti High School graduate also gave Hancock the lead for good in the bottom of the first. Michaela Valencia walked and stole second, while Jessica Rothanzl and Missy Regalado also drew free passes to load the bases with one out for Chenault. She hit a full-count pitch for a basehit into left field to score Valencia and Rothanzl to make it a 2-1 Hancock lead. Regalado later scored on a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of Salazar to cap a three-run first inning.

The Bulldogs doubled their lead with three more in the second, two on a RBI-single up the middle from Megan Love. Regalado followed with a two-out double off the left field wall to drive in Love to make it 6-1 Bulldogs. Salazar led off the third by driving the first pitch she saw, a change-up, over the left field wall for her fourth home run of the season giving Hancock a 7-1 advantage.

The Bulldogs iced the game with three more in the fourth without virtue of a basehit. Four Bulldogs drew walks, including Chenault who took ball four with the bases loaded to force in a run.

Hancock drew eight walks as a team.

The Bulldogs outhit the Olympians four to three. Love, Regalado, Chenault and Salazar had one hit apiece, while Valencia and Rothanzl had two walks apiece. Love also stole three bases to go with 2 RBI.

The Bulldogs will try to close out the first round playoff series with a win on Sunday at noon. A third game, if necessary, would follow around 2 p.m.