Hancock Softball Powers Way to Doubleheader Sweep of Oxnard

The Allan Hancock College softball team ended the 2016 season with a great send-off to its sophomores with a 5-1 and 17-5 doubleheader sweep of Oxnard on Tuesday afternoon. At 9-9 in Western State Conference play, the Bulldogs finished fifth in the standings, and 18-20-1 overall. Oxnard ended the season 3-15 in conference and 7-26-1 overall.

Sophomores Judith Salazar and Micalah Herrigel hit their first home runs of the season, and freshman Emily Gantt clubbed two more to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-run margin of victory in the second game. Herrigel hit a two-run home run, the first of her career, in the third inning. Gantt followed by sending a ball over the left-center field wall. Salazar went deep to left-center for a three-run blast in the fourth, and Gantt clubbed a solo shot two batters later.

Gantt, a St. Joseph High School graduate, scored four times in the game, hit two home runs in a game for the second time this season, and drove in a career-high 5 RBI. She delivered a two-run double in the second inning. Gantt finished the season with a team-high eight home runs.

Herrigel scored three times and drove in four runs, both career highs. The Lompoc High School graduate added a two-run double in the second.

Sophomore catcher Monique Hoobery stroked a two-run triple as part of a four-run first inning in the second game. Hancock added five in the second, three more in the third and five in the fourth in its five-inning victory.

In the opening game, Hancock and Oxnard remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Bulldogs rallied. Gantt walked and Hoobery singled. Pitcher Shannon Peterson drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Sophomore Schuyler Gooley hit a fly ball that was misplayed by the Oxnard left fielder allowing Gantt to score. Christabel Chavez then reached on an error by the third baseman that allowed Hoobery to score to give Hancock a 2-0 lead after four innings. Hancock added another run in the fifth on an error that allowed Salazar to score to make it 3-0 Bulldogs. Salazar delivered a two-run single in the sixth to provide insurance.

Peterson threw a complete game to earn the win in the opener. She struck out five and allowed three hits and one run.

Salazar finished the season as Hancock's RBI-leader with 36 RBI. The doubleheader marked the final game in a Hancock uniform for six sophomores: Salazar, Gooley, Ashley Ruiz, Hoobery, Herrigel and Trista Berryman.