Scoring in five of seven innings, the Lady Cougars varsity softball team took a 10-0 win from Livingston in the Trans-Valley League opener for both teams on Thursday.
The girls went on the road for the game and held Livingston to just four hits while rapping out 18 of their own on the day.
"It was a nice run, they're doing well," coach Diane Teixeira said of the contest and her team's ability to capitalize on their opportunities.
Escalon scored a single run in the first, added two more in both the third and seventh innings, broke the game open with a four-run fourth and scored one run in the fifth.
Contributions came from all corners, with Shannon Krein going 3-for-5 with two singles, a home run, a run scored and two RBIs while Amanda Ainsworth was also 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
"In the first inning, Mandy San Julian singled, Shannon Krein singled and then San Julian scored on a passed ball," noted Teixeira.
San Julian was also aboard in the third inning, on a single, when Krein belted a two-run homer.
But it was the fourth inning when the Lady Cougars really put a dent in the hopes of Livingston.
"Amanda Ainsworth got on with a bunt single, Melissa Nickas was hit by a pitch, then Missy Cullum, Nicky Brown and Amber Wood all had RBI singles," Teixeira noted.
The squad put four runs on the board in that inning to put some distance between them and their opponents.
Brown started the game on the mound for the Lady Cougars, going four innings. She struck out seven, walked none and gave up two hits. Cullum came on in relief and pitched three innings, striking out two, walking none and allowing two hits.
The effort was a solid one for the girls, said Teixeira, starting out the league campaign on a winning note.
This week, they are in action for non-league contests. They were scheduled to play at home against Argonaut on Tuesday, after The Times went to press, and will be at Amador for a Thursday, March 25 contest.
The girls went on the road for the game and held Livingston to just four hits while rapping out 18 of their own on the day.
"It was a nice run, they're doing well," coach Diane Teixeira said of the contest and her team's ability to capitalize on their opportunities.
Escalon scored a single run in the first, added two more in both the third and seventh innings, broke the game open with a four-run fourth and scored one run in the fifth.
Contributions came from all corners, with Shannon Krein going 3-for-5 with two singles, a home run, a run scored and two RBIs while Amanda Ainsworth was also 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
"In the first inning, Mandy San Julian singled, Shannon Krein singled and then San Julian scored on a passed ball," noted Teixeira.
San Julian was also aboard in the third inning, on a single, when Krein belted a two-run homer.
But it was the fourth inning when the Lady Cougars really put a dent in the hopes of Livingston.
"Amanda Ainsworth got on with a bunt single, Melissa Nickas was hit by a pitch, then Missy Cullum, Nicky Brown and Amber Wood all had RBI singles," Teixeira noted.
The squad put four runs on the board in that inning to put some distance between them and their opponents.
Brown started the game on the mound for the Lady Cougars, going four innings. She struck out seven, walked none and gave up two hits. Cullum came on in relief and pitched three innings, striking out two, walking none and allowing two hits.
The effort was a solid one for the girls, said Teixeira, starting out the league campaign on a winning note.
This week, they are in action for non-league contests. They were scheduled to play at home against Argonaut on Tuesday, after The Times went to press, and will be at Amador for a Thursday, March 25 contest.
