Hancock Softball Falls 5-2 at No. 1 Cypress to Open Regional Series

A four-run first inning by undefeated Cypress was too much for the Allan Hancock College softball team to overcome. Making their third postseason appearance in the last four years, the Bulldogs dropped the opener of the best-of-three-game series at the South Regional's top seed 5-2 on Friday afternoon. Hancock dropped to 28-14 overall, while the Chargers improved to 41-0.

Larrissa Ostrander went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and RBI. Ostrander, Nakaila Fuggs, Myranda Morales, Christabel Chavez and Nikole Cody each had one hit. Cypress out-hit Hancock 6-to-5.

Cypress scored four times off Hancock pitcher Bailey Killough, the 2017 Western State Conference Pitcher of the Year. Melanie Okazaki, Cypress' leadoff hitter, reached on an error and promptly stole second. She came around to score on a single from Jenny Vasquez for the first of four Cypress runs. Cypress had three hits and drew one walk in the inning.

Hancock got a run back in the third when Cody drew a walk. Sierra Martinez entered as a pinch runner and stole second base. She moved to third on an infield single from Chavez. Ostrander delivered a RBI single to left to make it a 4-1 game. Later in the inning, Chavez tried to score on a groundball, but was thrown out at the plate to keep it one-run game.

Cypress tacked on another run in the fourth, but Hancock answered in the sixth when Maggie Dasis scored on Cypress' second error of the inning. The Bulldogs threatened in the seventh, but Fuggs was stranded at third base when the final out was recorded.

Killough scattered six hits and five runs, four of which were earned, over 4 1/3 innings. She issued five walks and did not strikeout anyone. Shannon Peterson threw 1 2/3 innings of shutout-relief for Hancock.

Second baseman Jenny Vasquez had two hits and 2 RBI for the Chargers. Pitcher Destiny Vasquez drove in two runs at the plate. She also earned the win with a complete game in the circle. She issued one walk and struck out five Bulldogs.

Game two of the series will be Saturday at noon. A third game, if needed, would follow at 2 p.m.