Dos Pueblos softball won a slugfest with visiting Oxnard, 9-6, to take sole possession of second place in the Channel League on Wednesday at Okinaka Field.
Bella Nuño belted two homers, extending her school record to 14, and Summer McCeney went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Chargers (9-2 in league, 17-8 overall). Oxnard fell to 6-2 in league and 9-8 overall.
Oxnard managed a single in the 7th, but Georgia Wilson shut down the Yellowjackets to earn the complete-game win.
“This game was a struggle,” said DP coach Mike Gerken. “Oxnard put pressure on us the entire day. They never let up. We showed great character this afternoon and kept playing our game even when we were down.”
He said the hitting of McCeney provided a spark.
“Her two RBIs in the first inning gave us some momentum. She got another hit later in the game, but more importantly, she moved the runners over to second and third in the fifth to set up Wilson’s two-run single.
“Trisha Lo getting on base ahead of Bella was also important. She fouled off five straight pitches in a 3-2 count before getting the walk. Then Bella does what Bella does — go deep.”
Her two-run blast gave the Chargers a 4-2 lead after two innings.
The Yellowjackets put three on the board in the third to take a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Riley Monroe led off with a bloop single, Anastasia Bruner hit a one-out liner to left and Wilson singled to left for two RBIs to give DP the lead at 6-5.
Paulina Avina doubled to the fence to score courtesy runner Kacey Hurley (running for Wilson) for a 7-5 lead.
Oxnard would not go away, adding a run to make it 7-6.
Nuno squashed any momentum the Yellowjackets had with a towering home run to center for an 8-6 lead.
Brunner singled in Mia Reveles for DP’s final run.
The Yellowjackets got a single in the seventh, but Wilson shut them down to get the complete-game win.