Bakersfield College’s softball team competed in their annual BC tournament, where the team tied against Southwestern on Feb. 20, and then beat Moorpark 4-0 on Feb. 21.

The Renegades faced Allan Hancock on Feb. 25 as well, but lost 9-7. BC then traveled to Reedley on Feb. 26 to play against Reedley and San Mateo. The Renegades lost 4-0 to Reedley and 11-3 to San Mateo.

In the game against Southwestern, Karlee Goolsby was able to score when Mackenzie West singled to left to give the Renegades their first run in the bottom of the second inning. Alyssa Gonzales led the team in hits, one of which was a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to tie up the game.

In its next game against Moorpark, BC’s Jannelle Gutierrez was hit by a pitch, allowing Gonzales to get the Renegades on the board. This would bring up Trinidad Lee, who singled to right, bringing home Gutierrez and Jordan Tomisaka. Then Casandra Sanchez, who got on base due to a fielder’s choice, scored from third after Lee’s second base steal, leaving the game 4-0.

Coach Christie Hill’s goal going into the tournament was to limit the team errors on defense.

“Errors have been a huge contributing factor to all our loses so far this preseason. We did not play as clean a defense as I would have liked against Southwestern, but against Moorpark, I was pleased with our efforts.”

The team has lost some key players to injuries, such as left fielder Isabelle Martinez and center fielder Alexis Rodriguez.

Hill said, “Alyssa Gonzales has been probably one of the more effective hitters. She brings a lot of power to our four spot in the lineup. Marina has been doing a great job on the mound. She has started three of the last five, but has appeared in relief in the other two.”

In the game against Allan Hancock, Lee and Gonzales led the team with two hits each. RBIs by Lee, Gonzales, and Ruiz contributed to the Renegades seven runs.

Hill said, “Against Hancock, we did a great job fighting. We scored first, and then Hancock scored in the bottom of the first inning. We quickly answered back in the top of the second. When Hancock scored in the bottom of the third inning, we again scored in the top of the fourth.”

In the game against Reedley, Hill felt the team was struggling both offensively and defensively.

“We faced a good pitcher that had good movement on the ball, and we struggled to adjust to her,” Hill said. “Defensively, we need to be able to shut teams down after we get two outs. All of Reedley’s runs were scored with two outs.”

In the San Mateo game, the Renegades lost 11-3, even with Lee and Arambula’s home runs. BC held a 3-2 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning. San Mateo then capitalized on errors made in the sixth inning, allowing them to score nine runs in the bottom of the inning.

Hill said, “We need to do a better job of putting the ball on the corner of the plate and not leaving the ball fat down the middle of the plate. Both Trini and Marina have done that in the past five games. No pitcher is perfect, but we need to be able to limit the numbers of fat pitches we throw during each game.”

The Renegades next home game is against Glendale College on March 10.