Chenault Leads Hancock Softball to Doubleheader Sweep

Backed by freshman pitcher Katie Chenault, the Allan Hancock College softball team won both of its games during a tournament hosted at Cuesta College on Saturday. The Bulldogs beat East Los Angeles 2-1 and ended the day with a 6-4 victory over West Valley College. Hancock evened its overall record at 3-3.

In the opener against East LA, Hancock scored once in the bottom of the first inning when Kristine Ramos led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice from Tawny Nunes. Ramos scored on a two-out single from Chenault to give Hancock a 1-0 lead.  East LA tied it at 1-1 in the top of the sixth. In the bottom half, Jessica Rothanzl led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chenault. The Righetti High School graduate scored the game-winning run on a RBI-double from shortstop Missy Regalado. Chenault retired East LA in order in the top of the seventh to seal the win.

Chenault struck out nine and walked one in seven innings to earn the win in the circle. She scattered six hits and surrendered one unearned run.

Ramos and Regalado had two hits apiece in the 2-1 victory. 

The Bulldogs struck quickly in the second game against West Valley. Tawny Nunes hit a one-out single and stole second base. Chenault clubbed a 2-run home run to stake Hancock to a 2-0 lead after one. The Bulldogs erupted for four runs in the third thanks to a RBI-triple from Nunes, RBI-single from Rothanzl and a sacrifice fly from Paige Cosand.

West Valley made a game of it with two runs in fifth and two more in the sixth inning. They brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh, but Chenault struck out Khailyn Neumayer to end the game.

Chenualt went seven innings in the second game with three strikeouts. The freshman from Righetti High School surrendered eight hits and four runs.

Ramos, Nunes and Chenault had two hits apiece.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, Feb.15 at a tournament hosted by Mt. San Jacinto College.