Cougars Sweep Allan Hancock in Road Softball Doubleheader
SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Taft College used dominant pitching in the opener and an explosive late-inning offense in the nightcap to sweep a road doubleheader from Allan Hancock College on March 23, rolling to a 9-0 win in Game 1 and a 15-5 comeback victory in Game 2.
The Cougars set the tone early in the opener and never relented. Taft struck for three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Jasmine Estrada to right-center, and that cushion was more than enough for starting pitcher Jada Mizener. Estrada finished Game 1 with two hits and three RBIs, sparking an offense that piled up 11 hits and applied pressure throughout the lineup.
Taft added a run in the second inning when Estrada singled through the left side to bring home Jashia Lee-Hernando, then pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth as Lee-Hernando was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run. The Cougars broke the game open in the seventh, plating four more runs. Jaycee Edgar delivered the decisive blow in the frame with a two-run double to center, capping the 9-0 victory and finishing off a complete offensive effort.
Mizener anchored the shutout in the circle, throwing a complete-game seven-inning gem. She scattered six hits, walked just one and struck out seven, keeping Allan Hancock off the board despite the Bulldogs' occasional traffic on the bases. The Cougars played clean behind her, committing only one error while turning in steady defensive support to preserve the shutout.
Game 2 followed a different script, as Allan Hancock jumped on top early before Taft's offense took control late. The Bulldogs scored twice in the first inning and twice more in the second, then added a run in the third to build a 5-3 lead after three innings. Taft answered with runs in the fourth and fifth to pull even and then move ahead, setting the stage for a decisive seven-run seventh inning that turned a tight contest into a 15-5 runaway.
Katelynn Moore was a constant presence on the bases in the nightcap, scoring four runs while collecting three hits and stealing two bases. Keona Comilang also finished with three hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs, while Estrada stayed hot at the plate with three more hits and three RBIs. In the pivotal seventh inning, Jashia Lee-Hernando delivered the key swing with a three-RBI double as the Cougars sent the game out of reach. Taft finished with 15 hits and took advantage of eight walks in the win.
In the circle, Mischa Mott settled in after the early Allan Hancock surge to earn the Game 2 victory. Mott worked six innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs while striking out three and pitching around seven walks. Behind her, the Cougars played error-free defense. Taft's staff and defense combined to allow just five runs across 14 innings on the day, while the offense totaled 24 runs in the sweep.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Cougars showcased both shutdown pitching and a deep, efficient lineup, using an early statement in Game 1 and a late-inning surge in Game 2 to leave Santa Maria with a pair of convincing road wins.