The pitching was nearly perfect on Tuesday as SBCC gave up just three hits in 12 innings of a softball sweep over Cuesta at Pershing Park. The scores were 10-0 and 7-1.
Celeste Acosta tossed a no-hitter in the five-inning opener and Alyse Harris threw a three-hitter with a season-high 12 strikeouts and a grand slam in the nightcap. The Vaqueros (11-8, 3-0 WSC Gold Division) scored 10 runs in the fourth inning of the opener and six unearned runs in the third inning of the second game.
Fifteen of those 16 runs came with two outs.
Harris fanned nine of the first 12 batters to start the second game. She struck out seven straight from the second through the fourth, including four looking. The Vaqueros were ahead 3-0 when Harris hammered her grand slam to center field, scoring Roxy Hugo, Kayla Dormer and Brianna Gill.
“I came out with a little more intensity after having the whole first game to warm up,” said Harris, who gave up a run in the first and nothing else. “My screwball is my most effective pitch and my riseball was definitely on today. Those were the two money pitches.
“I hit a straight-up fastball (on the grand slam). It felt so good.”
It was Harris’ first homer and the team’s first slam of the year.
Acosta struck out six and didn’t walk a batter in the first game, which was called after five innings due to the 8-run rule. She faced the minimum 15 batters. Only one Cougar reached base — Danika Gaslan on a two-out error in the second — and she was caught stealing by catcher Lauren Larabell.
The Vaqueros scored 10 runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Brianna Portese that made it 5-1 and chased starting pitcher Mandi Miller.
They had 14 batters in the inning and scored nine runs with two outs. The Vaqueros collected six hits, three walks and a hit batter in that inning alone. Natalie Orosco went 2-2 in the inning with a two-run single.
Shortstop Mariah Coyazo was 2-2 in the game with one RBI.
“It took us a little while to get going, then we lit it on fire in the fourth inning,” said coach Paula Congleton. “I was really pleased that we didn’t get frustrated and stayed composed.
“We used all our available players today and it’s always a good day when everyone gets in the game.”
The Vaqueros will host Ventura on Thursday in a 2:30 p.m. game.
