Valencia, Rothanzl and Salazar Power Bulldogs to 10-2 Win and Doubleheader Sweep of Moorpark

The Allan Hancock College softball team outscored visiting Moorpark 20-2 on its way to a doubleheader sweep with 8-0 and 10-2 conference victories on Tuesday afternoon. Both games went five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Katie Chenault threw a perfect game and Judith Salazar crushed a grand slam to finish with 6 RBI in the opener. Michaela Valencia hit a grand slam of her own during an eight-run first inning in the second game. The Bulldogs, who are ranked ninth in the Southern California Regional Coaches Poll, extended their winning streak to 10 games and improved to 3-0 in Western State Conference –Gold Division play and 12-2-1 overall. Moorpark fell to 0-2 in conference and 5-10 overall.

Jessica Rothanzl started the scoring for the Bulldogs in the opener with a basehit to left to score Valencia who led off the bottom of the first and reached on an error. The Bulldogs added to their lead in the third on a run-scoring double to gap from Rothanzl to score Megan Love. After Chenault walked and was replaced by pinch runner Elysha Cortez, Missy Regalado reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. Salazar, a freshman outfielder, cleared the bases by turning on the pitch and sending a drive over the left centerfield wall to give Hancock a 6-0 lead.

The Righetti High School graduate added a two-run double to right center in the fourth to cap her 3 for 3 effort with 6 RBI and two extra basehits at the plate in the opening game. Rothanzl also finished 3 for 3 with one double and 2 RBI. Hancock finished with seven hits.

Chenault allowed one ball out of the infield, a popup to shallow center field. She struck out a batter in every inning, including the side in the third. The sophomore, who was just named the State Pitcher of the Week, retired all 15 batters she faced. Earlier this season, she threw a no-hitter against San Bernardino in another 8-0 win in five innings. To watch highlights of the first game, click here.

In the second game, Hancock erupted for eight runs and sent 11 batters to the plate. Valencia led off the first with a double and scored when Rothanzl delivered a one-out double. After Chenault was hit by a pitch, Regalado grounded into a fielder's choice to force Rothanzl at third base. With two outs, Salazar delivered a RBI-single to make it 2-0 Hancock. Freshmen Ashley Ruiz, Monique Hoobery and Teanna Silveira drew three straight walks to force in two runs with RBIs credited to Hoobery and Silveira. With Hancock leading 4-0, Valencia capped the eight-run frame with a shot over the left-center field wall for her second grand slam in the last three games.

Rothanzl led off the second with a solo home run to make it 9-0. Rothanzl and Valencia are tied with the team lead with four home runs. Chenault allowed single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Hancock ended it with a walk-off single in the bottom of the fifth off the bat of Salazar to score Reglado who walked and stole second base.

The Bulldogs collected six hits in the second game, two apiece from Valencia, Rothanzl and Salazar. Valencia had four RBI, Rothanzl and Salazar added two apiece, while Hoobery and Silveira had one each.

Chenault scattered four hits to the Raiders in the second game and two runs. She struck out 10, hit one batter and walked another.

For the day, Salazar went 5 for 6 with one double, one home run and 8 RBI. Rothanzl finished 5 for 6 with one home run and four RBI. Valencia was 2 for 5 with three runs and 4 RBI.

The Bulldogs hit the road for three challenging games over a two-day period later this week. Hancock plays at Long Beach on Friday, March 13, at 1 p.m. before playing two games at Southwestern on Saturday. The Bulldogs face Southwestern at 11 a.m. before batting Mt. San Antonio College, the third ranked team in the region and fourth ranked team in California this week.