Bulldog Softball Wins WSC Showdown at SBCC 3-2 Behind Killough and Bakke

Bulldog Softball Wins WSC Showdown at SBCC 3-2 Behind Killough and Bakke
February 28, 2018

Sophomore Bailey Killough clubbed a two-run double and struck out seven in the circle, while freshman Zaiden Bakke drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth to lead the Allan Hancock College softball team to a 3-2 conference win at Santa Barbara City College on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs, the defending Western State Conference co-champions, improved to 2-0 in league and 11-3-1 overall. The Vaqueros fell to 0-2 in conference play and 8-8 overall.

The Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the board in the first as Crystal Gonzalez drew a one-out walk and moved to second when Mallory Townsend reached first on an error by the Vaqueros' second baseman. Killough followed by sending the ball down the right-field line to drive in both runners and give Hancock the early 2-0 lead.

SBCC tied it with one run in the bottom of the first and another in the second off Killough.

SBCC's Calista Wendell and Killough were locked in a pitchers' duel until the Bulldogs broke through in the fifth. Townsend singled through the left side of the infield and stole second base. With two outs, Bakke delivered a base hit to left to drive in Townsend with the game-winning run.

Killough stranded two SBCC runners in the fifth and one more in the sixth before sending down the Vaqueros in order to preserve the win. Killough, the 2017 Western State Conference Pitcher of the Year, threw a complete game to improve to 5-1 on the season. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate scattered six hits, two runs, one of them earned, over seven innings. She issued one walk and fanned seven Vaqueros. Killough also finished 1-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBI and a double.

Hancock finished with 10 hits in the win. Townsend went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Bakke and catcher Alyssa Gonzalez both collected two hits.

Hancock returns to action Tuesday, March 6, in a conference showdown at Ventura. The Pirates and Bulldogs shared the conference title last year. Ventura is off to an 11-4 start and won its conference opener last week over Santa Monica.