SANTA BARBARA – For the first time this season, the SBCC softball team ended a game with a run-rule win, taking down Santa Monica 10-2 behind a big fifth-inning.
The Vaqueros (7-17, 2-1) racked up 10 hits, tied for their most in their last 14 outings. Natalie Depasquale, Jade Leoffler and Mckinnzie Grossini all finished with two hits. Depasquale also added a walk and two RBI, while shortstop Linnéa Sandhai had two RBI of her own.
Santa Monica (0-6, 0-2) started strong with two runs in the top of the first. The Vaqueros answered back with a run in the bottom of the first.
Depasquale began SBCC's day on offense with a walk and would eventually steal third. Sarah Hammonds hit a sacrifice fly into center field to bring Depasquale home, making it 2-1.
SBCC was consistent over the next two innings. The home side scored two more runs in the bottom of the second. Leoffler singled to third base and scored on another sac fly, this time from Mellanie Barth. Grossini then scored on an RBI single to left center by Depasquale.
In the third, Alyssa Perez led off with one of her game-high three walks. After a Hammonds double to center field, Sandhai doubled herself, hitting a hard ball straight up the middle to bring in two runs.
Santa Barbara saved its best for last, scoring half of its runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sandhai scored on a single up the middle by Grossini. With the bases loaded, Leoffler scored on a single to left by Paige Powell.
Then, Depasquale was hit by a pitch, bringing Grossini home. Isabella Huckaby scored on another single up the middle by Naveah Freitas. The walk-off came in the form of a walk, as Perez earned another walk to bring Powell home for the game-sealing run.
Sarah Hammonds and Paige Powell split time at pitcher, giving up just two runs for the second time in three games. That is tied for the fewest runs the Vaqueros have allowed this season.
