Vaqueros Celebrate Sophomore Day with Shutout Win over Oxnard

By Jimmy Friery

SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Softball team (9-4) beat Oxnard on Thursday, 8-0 in 6 innings.

The last home game of the regular season, the Vaqueros celebrated Sophomore Day. Julianna Ortiz, Leila Chisholm, Jessica Reveles, Ryann Cruz, Elliana Ryan, Alexia Ayala, and Mackenzie Ensign were honored in a pregame ceremony—and celebrated with a win.

Alena Johnson pitched a shutout in the 7-0 win at Oxnard in late March, and this game was no different. After 4 scoreless innings from her, allowing just 1 hit, Elliana Ryan pitched the last 2 innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 4.

Mia Reveles led off the bottom of the 1^st with a single and promptly stole second and third. Gracie Verdugo hit a sacrifice fly to score her, and the Vaqueros never looked back.

In the 2^nd, Mia Reveles manufactured another run, singling to score Alexia Ayala. In the 3^rd, Jessica Reveles' RBI double scored Verdugo, and Reveles came around to score on Leila Chisholm's sacrifice fly. 4-0 Vaqs.

Next inning, Julianna Ortiz singled to score Mia Reveles after her triple. To lead off the 5^th, Elliana Ryan homered to make it 6-0. Chisholm's second RBI—a single, again scoring Jessica Reveles—padded the lead to 7.

A run away from a run-rule victory, Verdugo led off the 6^th with a double. Jessica Reveles again brought her home on an RBI double, and the game was called at 8-0.

Scoring in all 6 innings, the Vaqueros had a balanced offensive output on the day. Verdugo, Mackenzie Ensign, and both Mia and Jessica Reveles had multiple hits. Mia reached base in every plate appearance, also logging 2 walks, and Jessica led the team with 3 hits. Furthermore, all of the 1-6 hitters in the lineup drove in at least 1 run.

Gracie Verdugo has put together a phenomenal freshman year. Her blistering slashline of .442/.500/.716 leads the team in all three categories (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage). She also leads the team in home runs (6) and RBIs (36).

 After the win, the Vaqueros are tied for 3^rd with Hancock in the WSC-North standings. In Tuesday's final game of the regular season, the two teams will clash at Hancock to decide who finishes 3^rd outright.