SANTA BARBARA — The SBCC softball team continued its trend of scoring runs with its back against the wall, but wasn't able to escape a pair of five-inning defeats to San Bernardino Valley, 12-4 and 14-5 on Saturday.
GAME ONE (SBVC 12, SBCC 4)
The Vaqueros (1-4) gave up a run in the opening inning and fell behind big in the second, allowing eight more runs on seven hits to go down 9-0. SBVC (2-5) went on to score in each of the first four innings, taking a 12-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Santa Barbara looked to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth as center fielder Natalie Depasquale led off with a single to third base. Third baseman Alyssa Perez walked and first baseman Jade Leoffler singled to right center as Depasquale scored SBCC's first run of the day.
Leoffler's at bat was the first of four straight that brought in a run for the Vaqueros. Paige Powell double to left center to bring Perez home. Leoffler then scored on a sacrifice fly to left from Armani Garcia. Facing two outs, Mellanie Barth double to left and Powell scored, making it a 12-4 game.
Needing just one more run to send the game to a sixth inning, the Vaqueros came up just short. Barth and pitcher Lauren Indermuehle both had two of SBCC's seven hits, but SBVC nearly doubled the Vaqueros 13-7 in hits.
GAME TWO (SBVC 14, SBCC 5)
For the second straight game, the Vaqueros would go for seven hits, but SBVC couldn't be slowed down, racking up a season-best 18.
The Vaqueros took the initial lead in the bottom of the second. Indermuehle scored on a single down the right field line by Isabella Huckaby to make it 1-0.
From there, SBVC's offense exploded. The visitors scored twice in the third to take a 2-1 lead and put up six runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to put the game out of reach.
As it has in every game this season, SBCC saved its best for last. Huckaby and Mckinnzie Grossini scored on a two-run double from Leoffler in the bottom of the fifth. Leoffler made it home on a wild pitch and Perez brought in Naveah Freitas on a groundout RBI to make it 14-5.
In the final inning of games, SBCC is now averaging four runs. They have scored three runs in all other innings combined.
NEXT UP
SBCC will play three games this week, beginning with a Thursday trip to Riverside. The game will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Gave up one in the first
Eight on 7 hits in the 2nd. SBVC more than half their hits in that inning
