Abatti and Killough Lead Bulldogs to 9-0 WSC Win at Cuesta

Freshman left fielder Gennae Abatti homered and drove in three runs, while Bailey Killough went 3-for-3 at the plate and threw a two-hit shutout during the Allan Hancock College softball team's 9-0 win in five innings at Cuesta College Thursday. The Bulldogs bounced back from falling at Ventura on Tuesday to improve to 3-1 in Western State Conference play and 12-4-1 overall. The Cougars dropped to 3-1 in league and 8-13 overall.

Hancock broke open a scoreless game in the third when Abatti led off with a home run, the first of her collegiate career. Cuesta pitcher Sam Cabrera retired the next two batters, but hit Crystal Gonzalez and Mallory Townsend reached on a Cuesta error to extend the inning. Killough made the Cougars pay with a two-run single to give Hancock a 3-0 lead. Zaiden Bakke walked and Nikole Cody reached on another error by the Cougars allowing Killough to score to make it 4-0 Bulldogs. Alyssa Gonzalez followed with a RBI-single, and Abatti capped the seven-run inning with a triple to the gap to plate two more runs. The Nipomo High School graduate collected a triple, home run and 3 RBI in the third inning.

The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the fourth when Bakke ripped a two-run single to drive in Crystal Gonzalez and Killough.

The Bulldogs outhit the Cougars 7-to-2. Killough led the way with three hits, two runs and 2 RBI. Abatti went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, while Bakke went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.

Killough earned the win with five shutout innings. The sophomore allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out three.

Hancock returns home to host Pasadena City College (8-9) in a non-conference game at noon on Friday, March 9.