Bakersfield College softball has hit the season hard, playing eight games in the last two weeks, leaving their current record at 1-10.
On Feb. 12, the Renegades traveled to Taft where they lost 7-6. Taft scored four runs in the first inning, one in the fourth, and two in the sixth, while BC scored one in the first, three in the second, and one in each the fourth and fifth innings. “We out-pitched them and out-hit them,” said Coach Sandi Taylor. “We just could not play defense in that game.”
On Feb. 15, BC played at home against Santiago Canyon, and lost 13-2 in the fifth inning. In the third inning Morgan Peterson scored a run, as did Brittney Roberts in the fifth. Santiago Canyon scored four runs in the first inning, one in the second, five in the fourth, and three in the fifth.
Also on Feb. 15, BC played Cuesta, and won its first game of the season, 18-10. Kris Jones, Jalyssa Farley, Katie Hoffman, and Kaitlyn Diffenbaugh all scored one run each, while Peterson, Brook Charles, CJ Sagasta, and Kylee Rice scored two apeice, and Shelbe Pennel and Roberts each scored three runs. Both Jones and Charles hit a home run.
“I was proud of our girls for swinging the bat, and finally getting a win,” Taylor said.
On Feb. 16, BC went to College of the Sequoias and suffered another close loss, 5-0. “We pitched well, we played defense well, we only gave up one run in five different innings, but that’s a good sign because we could get out of an inning where [before] we’ve had trouble getting out of innings and you start to see a snowball effect.” While Taylor admits the team had difficulty hitting the ball, she was still pleased with the overall performance.
On Feb. 21, BC went to Antelope Valley and lost 9-1 ending in the fifth inning. Heather Rayhill scored the only run for BC in the third inning. “Overall I think we got outplayed. I don’t think we had much energy,” said Taylor.
Over the weekend of Feb. 23-24, BC hosted several teams at the season’s first BC Classic. On Feb. 23 they played Mt. San Antonio, which resulted in another close loss at 5-3.
“I was really pleased with our efforts against Mt. SAC,” Taylor said. “We played a complete game. They came up with a big hit at the end, but I was very happy with [the game].”
Mt. SAC scored three runs in the fourth inning, while Pennel, Roberts, and Charles scored in the fifth. Mt. SAC returned with two more runs in the seventh, including a home run. Taylor cited the team’s pitching as a primary factor in keeping Mt. SAC from scoring, as well as some fantastic hitting.
“Early on, Morgan Peterson pitched and really kept them off balance,” Taylor said. “They scored three runs early, and then we answered back. We actually had runners [on base] every inning in scoring position. We had to hold them in that seventh inning, but one just got away from us.”
BC’s lost the second game of the day to Southwestern 12-0.
On Feb. 24, BC played Cypress, losing 10-1. Peterson scored the game’s first run in the first inning, but Cypress returned with two runs in the second and third, five in the fourth, and one in the fifth. Taylor was pleased with the team’s pitching, but wasn’t too happy with the general defensive play. “I thought Kelsey [Best] was a little unlucky, she threw a pretty good game even if we got a ball we could handle, we bobbled two or three. ”
BC will play at Cerritos College March 1 followed by a rescheduled home game against Ventura on March 5. They will then host LA Valley College on March 7.