Bulldogs Upset No.11 Ranked Team on Way to Tournament Title, Chenault Named MVP

Katie Chenault was named Most Valuable Player as the freshman led the Allan Hancock College softball team to the championship at the Mt. San Jacinto Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

The freshmen threw all fourteen innings in the Bulldogs' 3-2 win over Rio Hondo and 3-2 upset over College of the Desert, the 11^th ranked team in California. The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to six and improved to 7-3 overall. They completed a perfect 4-0 run in the tournament. 

Rio Hondo scored twice in the top of the first. But the Bulldogs scored one in the first and took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth. Chenault struck out 7 and scattered 8 hits in the opening victory.

Offensively, Jessica Rothanzl was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate with one run and one RBI. Lompoc native Tawny Nunes went 2 for 4 and scored twice. Chenault drove in two and hit a triple in four at-bats.

In game two, the Bulldogs broke open a scoreless game with two runs in the fourth. Desert tied it with two runs in the fifth before the Bulldogs scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh.

Chenault allowed two unearned runs and four hits in a complete game effort. The freshman struck out 11 and walked two hitters. She finished the weekend with a 4-0 record with 39 strikeouts in 27 innings in the pitching circle. Chenault surrendered only 17 hits and three earned runs. 

Ramos went 1 for 3 and stole three bases in the second game. Nunes went 1 for 4 with three stolen bases. Rothanzl hit a double, scored once and drove in one run. Chenault added a RBI-triple.

The Bulldogs open the home portion of their 2014 schedule on Thursday, Feb.21, against Taft. The game will take place at the Hagerman Sports Complex due to on-going construction on the team's home field on campus. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.