Bulldogs Open Conference with 7-0 Win at Oxnard

Gianna Abatti and Missy Regalado both drove in two runs, while Katie Chenault struck out 13 in the Allan Hancock College softball team's 7-0 win at Oxnard in both teams' Western State Conference opener on Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs bounced back from Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Bakersfield to improve to 12-4 overall and 1-0 in conference. Oxnard dropped to 0-1 in league and 1-11 for the season. 

Hancock scored twice in the top of the first inning when Tawny Nunes drew a one-out walk and stole second. She moved to third on a passed ball. Jessica Rothanzl walked and stole second base. Chenault hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Nunes. Regalado followed with a base hit to plate Rothanzl.

Hancock added to its lead in the fourth when Kristine Ramos singled home Alexa Berryman, who had reached on an error earlier in the inning. 

Abatti drove in a run in the fifth inning with a double to drive in Rothanzl to make it 4-0 Bulldogs. Hancock added three more runs in the sixth when Nunes singled home Megan Love. Regalado later delivered a RBI-single to score Nunes. Abatti was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in Rothanzl.

The Bulldogs collected seven hits and stole eight bases. Regalado went 2 for 4, while Ramos, Nunes, Chenault, Abatti and Berryman each had one base hit. Rothanzl scored three runs after she drew three walks to go with two stolen bases. Nunes also swiped two bags.

Chenault scattered three hits in seven shutout innings. She walked one batter and struck out 13 to earn the win and improve to 12-3. The freshman Righetti High School graduate leads the state in wins and strikeouts (147).

The No.8 ranked Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, March 11, with a doubleheader at Moorpark.