Cuesta Softball picked up its first two wins of the season by sweeping a doubleheader against visiting Porterville, 4-0 and 6-5, in extra innings.  The Cougars struck first with a keen eye and good timing.  The Cougars scored two runs in the first inning by working four walks and adding a run on a fielder's choice.  The Cougars stranded three runners that inning but starting Pitcher Shelbi Griffith was dealing from the pitching circle.  Griffith authored a two-hit, shutout, while allowing only four Bucs on base and posting seven strikeouts.  The Cougars pair of runs in the first inning was enough to cover the win; however the Cougars still added an insurance run in both the 4th and 6th innings to seal the victory, 4-0.  In the nightcap.  Porterville regrouped and opened strong with two runs in the first inning and held a 5-2 advantage going into the bottom of the 7th inning.  The Cougars scrapped together a pair of runners on a fielder's choice and a single, before Shortstop Abbey Jones tied the game with a three-run homer. In the tiebreaker, the Pirates put runners on the corners, but the Cougars got out of the jam on a groundout to second.  It did not take long for the Cougars to double their season win total in the bottom of the inning.  By rule, the Cougars placed Addy Finegan, the last out of the seventh inning, at second base. Centerfielder Cierra Cloud opened the inning and closed the game, when drove in Finegan with a game-winning single, 6-5, in eight innings.  Griffith, who returned to the mound in the 4th inning of the nightcap, earned her second victorious decision of the day, while the Cougars improved to 2-7 on the season.  

 

The Cougars shall remain in San Luis Obispo for the rest of the week and shall host a mini tournament on Friday and Saturday.  Cuesta will host Saddleback and Monterey Peninsula on Friday and then play a single game with the Bobcats on Saturday.  The Bobcats shall play the first two games of the day, while the Lobos play the last two.  The Cougars, being good hosts, shall play Saddleback (9 AM) and Monterey Peninsula in the first and last games of the day (1 PM).  Saddleback and Cuesta have also decided to add another game on Saturday (11 AM) to complete the series.