Vaqueros Dominate Doubleheader Against Barstow

By Jimmy Friery

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Softball team won both games of their doubleheader against Barstow at Pershing Park on Monday. The Vaqueros dominated in two run-rule victories by scores of 20-1 and 15-7.

Game one: Santa Barbara 20, Barstow 1

The first inning of game one was foreshadowing of the rest of the day. The Vaqueros used nine runs on six hits, a few walks, and an error to take a resounding lead.

Two more in the second, six in the third, and three in the fourth added up to a 20-0 lead. The visitors plated a consolation run in the fifth to spoil the shutout via a hit by pitch and two errors, but the Vaqueros will not lose sleep over it.

Sammi Korte pitched a shortened complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out five. She was also the only Vaqueros to score four runs or have four RBIs. Furthermore, she was a homer away from the cycle; her three hits were tied for the team lead with Aleena Madrid.

Game two: Santa Barbara 15, Barstow 7

Game two began a bit differently. In the top of the first, an error, walk, and two singles made it 2-0 Barstow before the Vaqueros could even record an out. Ventura Van-Zandt earned back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam, and Santa Barbara immediately scored three in the bottom half to take the lead.

Back to their game one ways, the Vaqueros put up a five-spot in the second. Gracie Verdugo's three-run homer helped the cause. Soon after, in the top of the third, Barstow was aided by two errors, scoring three runs to get to 8-5.

Verdugo hit another (solo) homer in the fourth, followed by Korte's three-run shot to finally give the Vaqueros real breathing room again. Ruby Bartholomew came on in relief in the fifth and struck out the side to maintain a 14-7 lead. Mia Gaitan's single in the home half was a run-rule walk-off, increasing the lead to eight in the fifth inning—15-7.

Leadoff hitter Bella Cox led the team with three runs, while Gaitan, Verdugo, and Korte each had two hits apiece. Van-Zandt struck out seven batters in four innings, earning the win.

While there are still plenty of non-conference games to play, the Vaqueros now look ahead to their conference opener later this week. They travel to Hancock on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 12 noon.