Vaqueros Run-Rule Pierce in Impressive Start to Conference
By Jimmy Friery
SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Softball team beat Pierce at home on Thursday, 16-0 in 5 innings.
The Vaqueros are now 2-0 in conference play after another run-rule victory at Santa Monica on Tuesday, 23-1. Thus, they have outscored their opponents 39-1 in their first 2 conference games.
Against Pierce, SBCC was guided by an 11-run 1st inning. However, the runs did not come as easy as that total sounds. The Vaqueros scored 9 runs with 2 outs, all but ensuring victory before the end of the first frame.
After scoring at least one run in innings 2 through 4, Alena Johnson and Elliana Ryan handled the pitching, shutting out Pierce.
All 9 Vaquero batters reached base at least twice, except for Gracie Verdugo, who gets a pass since she boasts a massive .742 slugging percentage and leads the team in homers (5). She doubled and hit a sacrifice fly on Thursday.
Leila Chisholm crossed over from a WSC-North Honorable Mention performance in Basketball and did not skip a beat on the softball field. She is 3 for 6 in her first 2 games, doubling and driving in a team-high 3 RBIs against Pierce.
Alexia Ayala tripled in the first inning, coming around to score on the play thanks to an errant throw. Mia Reveles hit homer number 4 as the next batter; the freshman centerfielder is slashing an unreal .458/.554/.814.
Elliana Ryan also homered, her 2nd of the year, while pitching the last 3 innings of the shutout. Jessica Reveles led the team with 3 hits, currently holding a .500 on-base percentage on the season.
SBCC plays next at home against Ventura at Monday, with first pitch slated for 2:30 PM.