Walks came back to haunt the SBCC softball team on Thursday as Cuesta swept a WSC doubleheader in San Luis Obispo. The Cougars won the opener 1-0 to snap the Vaqueros’ three-game win streak and took the second game, 8-7, in eight innings.
Cuesta (22-19, 15-8) got the only run of the first game in the first inning on a walk, a single, a fielder’s choice and a deep grounder to shortstop that scored the run. Bryanna Monelo pitched a four-hitter for SBCC (13-23, 9-13), which had chances to score but stranded seven runners.
The Cougars jumped ahead in Game 2 with a seven-run third inning. The Vaqueros bounced back with two runs in the fourth and pulled within 7-6 on a grand slam by Amanda Sharp in the sixth. SBCC tied it in the top of the seventh when Sonja Crawford singled and scored on a single by Bianca Alvarez.
Cuesta pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on two walks and an RBI single by Sara Hughes.
Alvarez went 3-for-4 in the nightcap while Sharp was 2-4 with four RBIs.
“It was a couple of tough losses,” said coach Paula Congleton. “We showed great character, battling all the way. The kids really laid it all on the field.”
SBCC completes its season on Tuesday with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Ventura.
First Game
SBCC …………… 000 000 0 — 0 4 0
Cuesta …………. 100 000 0 — 1 4 0
Monelo and Crawford; Rodriguez and Sizer. W–Rodriguez. L–Monelo.
2B–SB: Gniadek.
Second Game
SBCC …………… 000 204 10 — 7 10 1
Cuesta …………. 007 000 01 — 8 11 1
Gniadek, Garza (4) and Crawford; Rodriguez and Sizer. W–Rodriguez. L–Garza (6-13).
2B–SB: Breck, Gurchinoff, Alvarez. C: Rodriguez. HR–SB: Sharp (1), 6th inn., three on.
Records–SB 13-23, 9-13. C 22-17, 15-8.
