Freshman Emily Morici powered Dos Pueblos softball to a 4-1 victory over Oxnard High on Tuesday in Oxnard.
Morici struck out 14 and gave up just five hits in a complete-game effort for the Chargers (17-5, 9-1 Channel League). She has now struck out 27 batters in her last 13 innings of work.
While Morici led the way in the circle, Anastasia Brunner went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Zella Cassidy and Brooklyn Hedricks tallied two hits apiece and Julianna Brunner drove in a pair of runs.
“Emily has thrown back-to-back games in which she has totally dominated. If our bats are hot, we know Emily is always going to give us a chance to win,” Dos Pueblos head coach Mike Gerken said.
“We still have some work to do offensively, but our veterans, especially Anastasia and Zella, are really focused and coming through against some very good pitchers.”
The Chargers opened the scoring in the first with an RBI sacrifice fly by Morici and added to the lead in the third inning with a two-run single off the bat of Julianna Brunner to make it 3-0.
Dos Pueblos’ final run came on an RBI single by Zella Cassidy in the top of the fourth.
Oxnard threatened in the bottom of the fourth with two runners in scoring position, but Julianna Brunner made an impressive double play at third base to keep the Yellow Jackets off the board.
Despite Oxnard plating a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Chargers held on for the win.
Bishop Diego 11, Del Sol 10
The Cardinals pulled out a high-scoring victory over Del Sol on Tuesday in Santa Barbara.
After Del Sol scored in the top of the first, Bishop Diego responded when Pilar Alvarez drilled a bases-clearing double to take a 3-1 lead into the second.
The Cardinals’ biggest outburst came in the third when they scored six runs on six hits, including a two-run single by Eden Wynne and an RBI triple from Penny Carroll.
Del Sol responded with nine runs across the final four innings, but Bishop Diego held on for the victory.
“Hitting is contagious, and the team really felt that today,” Bishop Diego head coach MeLinda Matsumoto said. “It was a team victory with girls picking each other up all game. They found a way to finish the game strong and get the victory.”
Sarah Fellers led the offense by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Pilar drove in four runs and Wynne tallied three RBI.
Meanwhile, Penny Carroll earned the win in the circle and surrendered only one hit to Del Sol.