Softball has built a 4-2 record over the first two weeks of the season and shall finally get to play in front of their home faithful this weekend.  The Cougars will play four games over the weekend, including three against #10 Sacramento City.  The Panthers have been making their pre-season trip to San Luis Obispo for years and it is always a good test for both teams.  The pair of Big Cats square off for a doubleheader on Friday (12/2 PM) and share a mini-tournament with LA Mission on Saturday.  Cuesta opens Day Two with another game against the Panthers, before Sacramento faces LA Mission in the sandwich game (Noon).  The Cougars play the Eagles in the tournament finale (2 PM).  

Softball began last week in Fresno with a mini-tournament against Modesto and their host Fresno City.  Cuesta easily handled Modesto in the opener with a 9-1 victory over the Pirates as Freshman Hannah Hollingsworth went the distance in the Pitching Circle for the win.  In the nightcap, Cuesta was outlasted by the host Rams, 8-7, in a see-saw battle.  The Rams took the early lead with a run in their first at-bat, but the Cougars used two hits and pair of Fresno errors to take the lead when they stepped to the plate in the 2^nd inning.  Cuesta's lead was short-lived as the Rams pound out five runs in their half of the frame.  Cuesta finally broke through with four runs in the 4^th, only to have the Rams respond with two runs to close the days scoring, as both teams went scoreless in the last two innings.  All-WSC Outfielder Emily Valdez and 2022 Team MVP Alura Neill (pict) led the Cougars' offense on the day.  Valdez was 4-for-7, including a triple, while scoring four times and driving in five runs, and Neil went 3-for-8 with a run scored and an RBI. Freshman Pitcher Bella Garcia took the loss in the circle.