BERRUATUA MAINTAINS 0.00 ERA AS #4 CSM TOPS #6 SOLANO, 7-1, IN SOFTBALL

CSM SPORTS NEWS    Contact: Fred Baer      baerf@smccd.edu       mobile/txt: 650.483.3733

SAN MATEO -- Lauren Berriatua continued her season perfect 0.00 pitching ERA as No. 4 state-ranked College of San Mateo easily turned back visiting No. 6 Solano College, 7-1, in a non-conference women's softball game Tuesday afternoon.

Berriatua (3-0) struckout eight and scattered four hits as CSM remained perfect at 5-0. The Bulldogs have now outscored opponents 70-4. Solano (1-1) lost for the first time.

Kayleen Smith and Lelani Akai each hit doubles and had a pair of hits. 

In the sixth inning, Melina Rodriquez, who came into the game leading the state with a .833 batting average, had a towering lead-off home run over the left centerfield fence to close out the day's scoring. Rodriquez also had an RBI sacrifice bunt in a 3-run second inning. A couple of infield putouts let her average drop slightly, to .778. She is slugging 1.267.

Kaitlin Chang had an RBI triple in the third inning. 

CSM had a 4-0 lead when the visiting Falcons had Stephanie Cello score an unearned run in the fifth frame after she had reached first on CSM's only error of the game. That was the first run scored off Berriatua this year.

Chris Peterson scored twice, including stealing home for San Mateo's second run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

STATE'S TOP TWO TEAMS VISIT SUNDAY: The Bulldogs have a busy – and tough home schedule – the rest of the week. On Thursday they host Yuba College in a twin bill, starting at noon. On Saturday they face American River at 10 a.m. and College of the Redwoods at 2 p.m. before welcoming the state's top two teams on Sunday. That Sunday twin bill has No. 2 Mt. San Antonio, last year's state runner-up, playing at 10 a.m. and then No. 1 Sierra, the defending state champions, closing out the slate at 2 p.m.