Cuesta Softball hosted local rival Allan Hancock and had control of the game until the Bulldogs rallied for five runs in the 5th inning.  Allan Hancock scored first, after Abby Salazar's single was followed in short order by Mya Mendoza's two-run home run, but the Cougars evened the score immediately.  Cuesta Shortstop Alura Neill also singled to lead-off the first inning and promptly scored on Katelin Eccles two-run home run.  The Cougars also manufactured a run from Emily Valdez's single to take the lead, 3-2.  Valdez singles, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch before, finally, scoring on a dropped pop-up.  Six outs into the game it looked like it was going to be a slugfest, however each team's starting pitchers, the Bulldogs' Briana Munoz, and Cuesta's Jillian Davis, kept the opposing offenses in check over the next three innings. Unfortunately, it all unraveled for Cuesta in the 5th inning as the Bulldogs batted around the order and tacked up a game-breaking five runs.  The rally began with walk, a pair of singles and a hit by pitch to allow the Bulldogs to tie the game with the bases loaded and no outs.  Returning Freshman Leea Brown took the pitching circle to relieve Davis, but a base-clearing double gave Allan Hancock the lead for good.  The Bulldogs also tacked on two more insurance runs in the 7th inning, while the Cougars added one more tally in their final at bat for a 9-4 final.  The loss dropped the Cougars to 10-16 overall and 2-3 against the WSC, while the Bulldogs improve to 3-1 in the loop and 13-7 on the season.  

Cuesta heads to Ventura this weekend to play four games in the Ventura Tournament.  The tournament promises to be a good test for the Cougars.  They open with Fullerton (11:30), who is just outside the Top 20, and then play #10 Bakersfield (2 PM) on Friday.  On Saturday, the Cougars open against another bubble team in Antelope Valley (11:30), before closing the tournament against Glendale (2 PM).