Powell’s pitching helps Vaqueros split twinbill

Paige Powell turned in 11 solid innings in the circle on Friday and SBCC split a WSC doubleheader at Pershing Park. The Vaqueros fell to Ventura 4-1 in the opener, then blanked L.A. Pierce 8-0 in five innings.

Powell, a freshman left-hander from San Marcos High, gave up just one earned run on 10 hits and struck out six on the day. Santa Barbara is 6-16 overall and 2-4 in the WSC.

Ventura 4, SBCC 1

The Vaqueros posted their second-highest hit total of the season (11) but only managed one run on a double by Kayana Diaz and an RBI single by Janet Salas in the first inning. They got runners on base in all seven innings but stranded 11.

The Pirates' first two hitters, Kali Brown and Serrina Cabral, went 5-for-8 with an RBI. Ventura (11-11, 6-2) scored three in the second (two unearned) to take a 4-1 lead. They had two hits and took advantage of three errors and a hit batter.

Powell pitched all seven innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on nine hits.

Samantha Yanes, Hannah Weaver, Kaelyn Whitten and Shelby Featherston all had two hits apiece for the Vaqueros.

Shelby Featherston RBI double vs Pierce pic.twitter.com/EuOZDZdBHS

— SBCCVaqueros (@SBCCVaqueros) March 23, 2019

Santa Barbara threatened in the sixth and seventh. Featherston belted a one-out triple in the sixth, then was left-on-base on a lineout by Mia Carranza and a strikeout by Yanes. With two outs in the seventh, Emily LoneTree and Weaver singled to right, brining the tying run to the plate. Ventura's Jessica Mendoza got Carson Dunckley to ground out to first, ending the game.

"We left a lot runners on today," said second-year head coach Justine Bosio. "We definitely need to be more aggressive in the box. It's great that we're getting runners and runners in scoring position, we just need to finish it."

SBCC 8, L.A. Pierce 0

The Vaqueros recorded their first shutout and first home win, thanks to six hits and seven Brahma errors that led to seven unearned runs.

Powell tossed a one-hitter for four innings with five strikeouts and a walk. Pierce pitcher Jodie Cory had her team's only hit – a single to left with two outs in the first. Dunckley pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning.

"Paige has been a real warrior for us, she just keeps plugging along," said Bosio. "This was a good team effort."

Salas went 2-3 for the Vaqueros and Yanes had a double to start the bottom of the first and scored three runs. SBCC got two in the first on a wild pitch and an error, then added three more in the second on an error, an RBI single by Diaz and a mishandled ball at first base that scored Yanes and put the Vaqueros ahead 5-0.

The Vaqueros are playing eight of 10 at home in the next two weeks. They'll play three of four at home next week, starting with a rain makeup on Monday vs. Oxnard at noon. On Tuesday, they'll travel to first-place Bakersfield, then they'll  host Hancock on Thursday and Riverside in a non-conference game on Saturday at 2 p.m.