Hancock Softball Splits Doubleheader with Ventura

The Allan Hancock College softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Ventura College on Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs won the opener 6-2, but dropped the second game 11-5. Hancock moved to 5-6 in Western State Conference play and 14-17-1 overall. Ventura finished the day 5-5 in league and 18-13 on the season.

In the opener, the Bulldogs scored first in the bottom of the first when Judith Salazar hit a sacrifice fly to allow Larrissa Ostrander to tag up and score. The shortstop led off with a single. Hancock scored three in the fourth when Salazar, Emily Gantt and Ashley Ruiz each singled to load the bases with no outs. Micalah Herrigel hit a fly ball to center that was misplayed by the Pirate outfielder allowing Salazar and Gantt to score to make it 3-0 Bulldogs. Schuyler Gooley grounded out to drive in Ruiz. Herrigel later scored on a two-out single by Christabel Chavez to cap the four-run frame. The Bulldogs added another run in the fifth when Ostrander singled, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left from Maggie Dasis. The Pirates scored two runs in the seventh to avoid the shutout.

Hancock finished with 10 hits in the opener, including two from Ostrander, Salazar and Herrigel. Shannon Peterson earned the win by allowing two runs and six hits over seven innings. She walked one and struck out two.

Hancock built a 5-3 lead after four innings in the second game. Peterson delivered a two-run single in the second, and Ashley Ruiz added a RBI-single in the third to help the Bulldogs carry a two-run advantage into the fifth. Three Hancock errors contributed to a six-run inning in the fifth that allowed Ventura to take a 9-5 lead.  Ventura added two more runs in the sixth. 

The Bulldogs committed eight errors that led to eight unearned runs in the second game. 

Ruiz and Chavez each had two hits to lead the Bulldogs. Herrigel, Peterson and Gantt added one hit apiece. 

Hancock will host first place Moorpark Thursday, April 7. The game will begin at 1 p.m. Moorpark split a doubleheader with Santa Barbara on Tuesday. The Raiders are 8-2 in conference and 18-6 overall with a half-game lead over Cuesta. The Cougars are 7-2 in WSC action and 20-8 overall. The Vaqueros are 8-3 in league and 24-8 overall.