SBCC lost a 6-5 heartbreaker in Thursday’s opener of a WSC Gold Division softball doubleheader, then stormed back to hand Cuesta its first conference loss with an 11-2 victory in five innings at San Luis Obispo.
The Vaqueros got a two-run double from Alice Cen and took a 4-1 lead after two innings of Game 1. They led 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, only to have Kryn Masutani belt a three-run, walk-off homer with one out. Masutani shares the state lead with eight homers.
Santa Barbara (6-12, 3-2) was held to three hits in the first game. Victoria Lucido pitched a three-hitter in the nightcap, striking out two and walking two. Lucido, a freshman left-hander, had a tough day, getting hit by a ball in warmups, then getting hit by a pitch and taking a line drive off her leg.
Cuesta (11-13, 4-1) suffered its first conference loss in the second game.
Natalie Orosco went 2-4 and had a two-run double during an eight-run SBCC third that gave the Vaqueros an 11-0 lead. Cen was also 2-4 with two RBIs.
SBCC stole six bases in the second game, including two by Dakotah Wilcox.
“We did a nice job of battling back in the second game,” said coach Paula Congleton. “We need to hit like that all the time.”
Samantha Cabada also had two RBIs for the Vaqueros, who received 10 free passes on eight walks and two hit batters.
The Vaqueros will compete in the Bakersfield Classic this weekend, taking on Cerritos and No. 2 Riverside at 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Game 1
SBCC …….…. 040 010 0 — 5 3 4
Cuesta …..….. 012 000 3 — 6 5 1
Abbott, Lucido (2), Abbott (5) and Lujano; Corsaletti, Blanco (6) and Brewster. W–Blanco 4-6. L–Abbott 2-5.
2B–SB: Cen. C: Masutani. HR–Masutani (8), 7th inn., two on.
Game 2
(5 inn., run rule)
SBCC …..…… 218 00 –11 8 0
Cuesta ……… 002 00 — 2 3 4
Lucido and Lujano; Roberts, Corsaletti (3), Blanco (4) and Pratt. W–Lucido 4-7. L–Roberts 4-4.
2B–SB: Lujano, Orosco. C: Singh, Masutani. 3B–SB: deCastro.
