Softball Heads to Cuesta Looking to Climb WSC Standings

The Hancock softball team will look to re-enter the race for the a third straight Western State Conference title with three conference games on a road, and a non-conference game. The Bulldogs start the week 2-4 in conference and 11-13-1 overall.

The Bulldogs snapped an eight-game skid with a 14-0 five-inning win at home against L.A. Pierce before taking the second game of the doubleheader by forfeit 7-0.  Sophomore left fielder Trista Berryman (Lompoc HS) went three for three with three runs and 3 RBI. Catcher Emily Gantt (St. Joseph HS) clubbed her sixth home run and had two hits. Sophomore center fielder Judith Salazar (Righetti HS), Christabel Chavez (Santa Maria HS), Larrissa Ostrander and first baseman Micalah Herrigel (Lompoc HS) had 2 RBI apiece. Pitcher Shannon Peterson earned the win by throwing a four-hit shutout with four strikeouts.  Hancock ended the week with a 4-2 loss to College of the Sequoias. Ostrander clubbed her first home run of the season. Gantt added a RBI-single.

Overall, Salazar leads the team with a .456 batting average and 23 RBI. Ostrander is hitting .408 with a team-leading 16 stolen bases and 19 runs. Gantt has six home runs and 19 RBI to go with a .379 batting average. Third baseman Ashley Ruiz (Nipomo HS) is hitting .321 with 21 walks and a .513 on-base percentage.

This week, Hancock will play a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 29, at Cuesta (4-1, 15-6). The two rivals will play at 1 and 3 p.m. The Cougars are led by pitcher Demi Danell, who is hitting .377 with 14 RBI. The sophomore is 12-2 in the circle with 96 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings and a 1.47 ERA. The Bulldogs will play at Oxnard College (1-4, 4-13) at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, before participating in a weekend tournament hosted by Ventura College on Saturday, April 2. They will face Citrus (7-15) on Saturday at 11 a.m.