No.10 Santa Ana Upsets No. 2 Hancock 8-2 to Open Super Regional

(Santa Maria, CA) For the first time in 34 games, a stretch that spanned nearly three months, the Allan Hancock College softball team lost. The Bulldogs, who are seeded second and hosting a Southern California Super Regional for the first time in nearly 20 years, fell 8-2 to No. 10 Santa Ana on Friday afternoon.

Hancock dropped to 35-3-1, while Santa Ana improved to 27-13. Hancock faces the loser of the Cypress vs. Santiago Canyon game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Santa Ana faces the winner of the Cypress/Santiago Canyon game at noon on Saturday in the double-elimination regional.

Santa Ana collected four extra basehits against Hancock's All-American pitcher Katie Chenault. Chenault and Santa Ana pitcher Victoria Franks matched zeroes for three innings, until shortstop Kaitlyn Harvey hit a solo home run over the left-center field wall on a two-strike pitch to give Santa Ana a 1-0 lead. The Dons added two more in the fifth on a RBI triple by All-American center fielder Emily Whitecavage and a RBI-single by Kori Cochran to make it 3-0 Santa Ana. The Dons scored three more in the sixth on back-to-back RBI doubles and a two-out RBI-single. They added two more in the seventh to complete the scoring.

Hancock finished with six hits and drew four walks. However, three Bulldogs were caught on the base paths for either leaving too early or being throw out.

Hancock loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth down 6-0. Chenault drew a walk to force in Megan Love with Hancock's first run. Jessica Rothanzl later scored on a wild pitch to make it a 6-2 game. However, Franks struck out three straight Bulldogs to escape the jam. Franks, a freshman, struck out seven to earn the win.

Chenault struck out five and walked six hitters. She hit two batters and allowed eight hits.

Shortstop Missy Regalado led the Bulldogs at the plate by going 3 for 3 with three singles. Jessica Rothanzl added two singles. Catcher Teanna Silveira added the other single.

Santa Ana's Cochran and Christina McCullough had two hits apiece. McCullough had two doubles and three RBI to lead the Dons.