Dos Pueblos softball completed a series sweep of crosstown rival San Marcos with an 8-0 win on Friday at Okinaka Field in Goleta.
The Chargers (12-2, 8-0 Channel League) got a complete-game shutout from Emily Morici and piled on five runs in the fourth inning to pull away for the win over the Royals (8-6, 4-4 CL).
“I am happy for our team today,” Dos Pueblos head coach Mike Gerken said. “We set a goal to be undefeated in Channel League at spring break, and here we are. It’s a nice spot to be in.
“We’ve got a great combination of talent and athleticism that doesn’t happen that often so we are all enjoying the ride.”
After the first two innings went scoreless, Dos Pueblos got on the board first with an RBI double off the bat of Anastasia Brunner to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the third.
Morici then twirled her fourth straight no-hit inning before helping herself at the plate, launching a leadoff solo homer to double the lead to 2-0.
That swing sparked a rally, as a single and a walk made way for a Kyanne Bechler two-run double to make it 4-0 with just one out in the inning. Brunner then delivered the biggest blow of the frame with a two-run home run over the center-field wall to extend the lead to 6-0 heading into the fifth.
While Morici continued to cruise in the circle, the Chargers plated one in the fifth on an RBI single by Vereniki Maniadi and rounded out the scoring in the sixth on a Zella Cassidy RBI single.
San Marcos picked up its lone hit of the day in the top of the seventh courtesy of a single by Caroline Wang, but Morici slammed the door to finish off the complete-game shutout.
Morici ended the day with eight strikeouts and did not walk a single batter en route to the victory.
Offensively, Anastasia Brunner led the charge by going 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Her sister, Julianna, had a strong day at the plate as well with two hits and two runs scored.
“Ultimately, from Tuesday’s game to today, [DP] was able to make the adjustments at the plate and get well-timed hits, and took advantage of some free bases and misplays,” San Marcos head coach Emily Dietz said.
“We weren’t able to answer back today. We’re learning from every loss and looking to keep grinding and improving.”