Softball beat defending Western State Conference Champion Moorpark, 7-2, to keep the pressure on current WSC-leader Ventura. The Cougars struck first on a manufactured run by leadoff Emily Valdez. Valdez singled in her first at bat, stole second and came around to score on a throwing error. The second inning was quiet, but the visiting Raiders struck back with two runs on Madeleine Mekari's Double to take the lead in the 3rd inning. Cuesta went down quietly over the next two innings but took the lead for good in the 5th on a single and a pair of bingles. Third Baseman Sarah Tallarico led off the frame with a single and scored two batters later on a double by Valdez, however Valdez was erased while trying to reach third. Luckily, Shortstop Reese Tartaglia followed with a two-out, single and scored the eventual winning run on Kaylynn Gray's (L-pict) RBI-Double. The Cougars left no doubt of the game's outcome with four more runs in their final at bat, as Pitcher Bella Garcia (R-pict) went the distance in the Circle to earn the victory. Gray, Valdez and Tallarico each enjoyed a multi-hit game, with Gray leading the pack with three hits, including a pair of Doubles, to go her game-high 3 RBI. The Cougars' victory improved their record to 8-7 on the season and 3-1 against the WSC.
Cuesta takes a break from WSC play next Tuesday (1/3 PM) with a doubleheader against Citrus in Glendora, before returning to their WSC slate to host #12 Ventura on Thursday (2:30).