Softball is chasing its first playoff berth since 2015 and holds a one-game lead over local rival Allan Hancock for the Western State Conference's second automatic post-season berth.  Cuesta plays three of its last four regular season games this week, including a doubleheader at home against the rival Bulldogs on Thursday (1/3 PM).  However, before their marquee match-up with Allan Hancock, the Cougars also play their third and game against Los Angeles Pierce in Woodland Hills on Tuesday (2:30).  Cuesta run-ruled the cellar-dwelling Brahmas, 12-0 and 14-0, in their first two meetings.  Cuesta, who also beat Allan Hancock on March 27 (7-5), needs to win at least once on Thursday to take their season series against the Bulldogs.  Hancock still has 14 regular season games left on their schedule, including two against undefeated, loop-leader Ventura, while Cuesta closes the regular season next Tuesday (2:30) at Moorpark.  Currently, Cuesta, Hancock and Ventura are the only teams that own a winning record in conference play.  

Cuesta has been red-hot recently and is currently riding a four-game winning streak, while claiming nine of the past 10 games.  The Cougars battled #11 Ventura in a one-run, pitching duel on Tuesday for a 1-0 loss, but bounced back to win their last four games of the week.  They took back-to-back, one-run games over Santa Barbara on Wednesday, 1-0, and Thursday, 2-1, and also swept a doubleheader at LA Valley on Friday, 12-3 and 11-2.  The Cougars are 21-13 on the season.