Cougars drop doubleheader at Allan Hancock

SANTA MARIA --- Taft College totaled 15 hits over a pair of games but couldn't contain Allan Hancock College on offense and suffered a doubleheader sweep by the Bulldogs on Tuesday.

The Cougars dropped the opening game 13-5 in five innings and fell 7-3 in Game 2 to close out the day.

In Game 1, Taft struck first by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. Alexis Garay doubled to drive in Kaylee Beltran and came in to score on an error by the Allan Hancock second baseman.

The Bulldogs got those two runs back in the bottom of the second and went on to score three times in in the third, six runs in the fourth, and two final runs in the fifth to earn the mercy-rule win.

Taft put together a three-run rally in the fifth. With two outs and the bases loaded, an AHC error allowed two runs to score. Hailee Danneker followed with an RBI single to Beltran for the Cougars' final run of the game.

Garay was credited with 4 RBI and went 2 for 3 with a run. Danneker went a perfect 2 for 2 at the plate with an RBI.

Garay took the loss in the circle after allowing 11 runs (8 earned) and 9 hits over 3 2/3 innings.

The Cougars scored first once again in Game 2, getting an RBI single from Arianna Forthman in the second that brought home Beltran.

But once again, Allan Hancock put together consecutive run-scoring innings to jump back out in front. The Bulldogs scored twice in the third, three times in the fourth, and two final runs in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead.

TC got two of those runs back in the sixth thanks to a two-run single by Forthman that scored Danneker and Garay.

Forthman drove in all three runs and went 2 for 2 with a walk. Danneker (3 for 3, run) and Garay (2 for 3, run) were solid once again at the plate.

Emma Silva took the loss in the complete-game effort. She allowed 7 runs and 13 hits over 6 innings.

Taft fell to 3-12 overall and returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 24) at noon when the Cougars host Cerro Coso College in a doubleheader.