Vaqueros rout Oxnard 10-2, set sights on the playoffs

Sydney Townes drilled an RBI single to left in the bottom of the fifth on Thursday, giving SBCC a 10-2 walk-off win over Oxnard at Pershing Park.

Monica Salas opened the fifth with a double to left, making her 3-3 in the Vaqueros' regular-season finale. Townes followed with her game-winning hit to boost the Vaqueros to 28-11 overall and 12-6 in the WSC Gold Division.

Moorpark and Cuesta lead the conference at 12-4. SBCC is third at 12-6 and Ventura is 11-5. The Vaqueros have next week off and will find out if they make the playoffs on Saturday, April 30.

Santa Barbara can't get an automatic playoff berth as the first- or second-place finisher but will likely make the Southern Cal Regional as an at-large team. SBCC is ranked ninth in Southern California and ninth in the So Cal RPI ratings.

"If I had to put a number on our playoff chances, I'd say it's about 95 percent," said coach Paula Congleton. "Our RPI is high and I talked to some coaches who've been in the seeding meeting and it's looking pretty good for us."

Rebecca Pullen (12-5) got the pitching win, retiring nine of the first 10 batters. She gave up two runs on three hits and struck out two.

"It was a good day, we always like it when we score in the first inning," said Congleton. "Becca did a great job on the mound, not allowing any big hits and we were pretty focused at the plate. We had a great attitude going in, after telling them about the possibility of making the playoffs."

Alyssa-Rae Jewell went 2-3 with three runs and Christal Vierra delivered a three-run triple in a five-run second inning. Vierra, a two-year starter at third base from Roseville, Calif., is the only sophomore on this year's team and was honored before the game.

Vierra is batting .336 and ranks second in the WSC Gold with 38 RBIs. She joined a small group of Vaqueros by getting the 50th win of her career (50-27).

"It was a great day, we all had fun," said Vierra, who will transfer to Sacramento State and hopes to continue playing softball. "After Tuesday (dropping a doubleheader to Ventura), we were determined to come out and get a big win today."

Congleton hopes Vierra can continue her career in the playoffs and at a four-year school.

"We're so proud of Christal, she's got an opportunity to keep playing ball and I hope she makes it," said Congleton. "She's not only one of the best third baseman in the WSC, she's one of the best in the state."

The Vaqueros led 6-0 after two innings but Oxnard scored twice in the fourth on a two-run single by Olyvia Escamilla. Santa Barbara came right back with three in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Jewell and an error, followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from Lauren Ballard and Lauren Bodden that made it 9-2.

Oxnard (7-24-1, 3-13) commited four errors, leading to three unearned runs.

SBCC is 13-4 at home this year but will likely be on the road if they make the 18-team Southern Cal Regional.