Vaqueros split with Cuesta in WSC battle for first

SBCC scored in every inning to take the five-inning opener from Cuesta 8-0 on Tuesday, then the bats went silent in a 3-1 loss in the second game of a softball doubleheader showdown for first place in the WSC Gold Division.

Leadoff hitter Sydney Townes went 3-3 with two RBIs in the first game and Alyssa-Rae Jewell was 2-2 and scored twice.

The Vaqueros (20-7, 4-2) scored single runs in the first three frames, the broke it open with four runs in the fourth on one hit and five errors. Only one of the eight runs was earned for the Vaqueros, who won their eighth straight and 13th in the last 15 games. The Cougars are 14-6 and 4-1.

Madison McNamee (11-3) tossed a three-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks. The Vaqueros ended it in the fifth on the eight-run rule. Lyndsi King was hit by a pitch and Alexa Sorensen singled to right. After a groundout moved up the runners, Jewell reached on a bunt to the third baseman. King scored on a passed ball to cap the 8-0 triumph, which was SBCC's third straight shutout.

The second game was a different story as the Vaqueros managed just four hits off Cuesta's Demi Danell (12-2). She lowered her WSC-leading ERA to 1.47.

Cuesta shortstop Sabina Ybarra hit a two-run homer in the first off Rebecca Pullen and the Vaqueros got their only run in the first when Jewell scored an unearned run on a passed ball. SBCC had six runners reach base in the last six innings and none got to third.

"It's a little frustrating because the same kid who pitched the first game was on the mound for the second game yet she baffled us in Game 2," said coach Paula Congleton. "It's like we don't understand the concept of playing a doubleheader. We take a half-hour break and we come back and we're a completely different team.

"We didn't do anything with our bats. It's frustrating when we have the steamroller going and everything positive going and then we can't score runs in the second game."

The Vaqueros outscored their opponents 78-9 during their eight-game win streak. Santa Barbara is No. 3 in the state in runs with 214, averaging a shade under 8.0 per game.

Rebecca Pullen (9-4) started the second game in the circle and gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits in three innings. McNamee relieved her to start the fourth and pitched no-hit ball for the last four innings, allowing just one baserunner with four strikeouts and a walk.

"We get great pitching from Madison and we don't support it with any hits," Congleton added. "Getting a split is better than going 0-2. From our standpoint as coaches, we're not sure why our team looks so different in the second game of doubleheaders. We're going to try some mental exercises in practice."

The Vaqueros will host Ventura in the finale of a seven-game homestand on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.