TAFT – The Porterville College softball team came away with a split of its Central Valley Conference doubleheader at Taft College on Tuesday thanks to a 17-2 victory over the Cougars in Game 2. The was preceded by a 17-9 loss to host Taft in the opening game.

Porterville needed just five innings to complete the mercy-rule victory. The Pirates scored a run in the top of the first, four in the second, blew the game open with an eight-run outburst in the third, added three more in the fourth, and closed with a run in the fifth.

Ciarra Foakes led the charge in the win, going 3 for 5 with a game-high 4 RBI while scoring twice. Lulu Flores (1 for 3) drove in 3 runs while Taylor Norman (1 for 3), Monea Posadas (1 for 4), and Kate Lowry (1 for 2) all had 2 RBI each. Leadoff batter Rubi Guzman (1 for 3, 2 BB) set the table, scoring 4 runs while also driving in one.

Charlee Roseberry went the distance in the circle for the Pirates to improve to 2-4 this season. She allowed a pair of late runs in the fifth inning and 6 hits.

Earlier in the day, it was Taft that cruised to a five-inning 17-9 win. Foakes drove in three runs, going 2 for 3 with a double to give her 7 RBI on the day. Taylor Norman had a pair of hits, going 2 for 4 with a double.

PC moved to 5-25 overall and 3-9 in Central Valley Conference play. The Pirates are back in action on Thursday (Apr. 11) when they host Fresno City College in a CVC game.