Bulldogs Rout LA Pierce 13-0 for 26th Straight Win to Clinch Outright Conference Title, Rothanzl Sets RBI Record

(Santa Maria, CA) Behind a nine-run second inning, the Allan Hancock College softball team cruised to a 13-0 win in five innings over LA Pierce to clinch the program's second consecutive outright Western State Conference championship on Thursday. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 12 in the state, extended their winning streak to 26 and improved to 12-0 in conference games and 28-2-1 overall. The Brahmas dropped to 1-9 in conference and 2-17 for the season.

Sophomore first baseman Jessica Rothanzl went three for three with 5 RBI. The Righetti High School graduate broke a three-year old program record by reaching 100 RBI in her career. Rothanzl has 47 RBI this season and had 53 RBI her freshman season. She broke the record of 98 career RBI held by current assistant coach Caitlin Voss, a St. Joseph High School graduate. Voss holds the program's single-season record with 55 RBI.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the first after Michaela Valencia led off with a walk and stole second. Megan Love singled and moved to second on a throw to third. Rothanzl drove them both in with a single to center field. The Bulldogs erupted for nine runs in the second inning after sending 15 batters to the plate. Teanna Silveira, a freshman catcher, led off with a home run, her second of the season. Rothanzl made it 4-0 with her second two-run single that plated Valencia and Love. Judith Salazar ripped a two-run double, third baseman Ashley Ruiz, a Nipomo High School graduate, delivered a RBI-single to make it 8-0. Valencia added a sacrifice fly to make it 9-0 Bulldogs. Rothanzl delivered her third RBI single and second of the inning to make it a 10-0 game.  Shortstop Missy Regalado followed by drawing a bases loaded walk to force in Silveira to cap the nine-run inning.

Gianna Abatti delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth to complete the scoring on the day.

Katie Chenault threw four no-hit innings. The sophomore added to her state-leading strikeout total with 10 more on the way to picking up her California-best 27^th win. The Righetti High School product walked one batter, but the runner was thrown out trying to steal by Silveira. Pioneer Valley High School graduate Serena Fernandez allowed one hit, walked one and struck out a Brahma in a scoreless fifth inning to secure the win.

Hancock finished 11 hits. Love went 2 for 3 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Salazar went 2 for 3 with a double , 2 RBI and a walk. Ruiz, Silveira, Valencia, and Regalado drove in one run apiece, while Abatti went 1 for 2 with two walks and 2 RBI.

The Bulldogs won all three meetings this season with LA Pierce by a combined score of 44-0. Overall, Hancock has won its 12 conference games this season by a combined score of 112-7.

Hancock travels to Bakersfield on Friday for a 2:30 p.m. game against the Renegades. The contest was originally scheduled for the preseason, but was rained out and rescheduled. Hancock's home game against College of the Desert on Saturday has been canceled after Desert decided not to travel to Santa Maria.