Softball: Porterville swept by Taft in CVC doubleheader

Coming off their first win of the season on Tuesday, the Porterville College Pirates couldn't keep the momentum going and suffered a pair of losses to Taft College in a Central Valley Conference doubleheader at home on Thursday.

PC was outscored by a combined 21-8 margin in Thursday's contests. Sophomore Taylor Maddox went 4 for 8 with 3 RBI over two games to lead Porterville at the plate.

Porterville, now 1-10 overall and 1-2 in CVC play, returns to action on Tuesday (Mar. 7) when the Pirates travel to Fresno City College for a 2 p.m. conference game.

Game 1: Taft 10, Porterville 4
Trailing 4-1, the Pirates rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie up the game. But Taft responded with five runs in the sixth and added a final run in the seventh to complete the victory.

Maddox had the big game, collecting three of PC's eight hits in the game with a RBI. Raeleen Torres and Samantha Dale also drove in runs for the Pirates.

Hannah Grimes took the loss after allowing 10 runs (only five earned) and 17 hits in the complete-game effort.

Game 2: Taft 11, Porterville 4
Taft jumped ahead 5-1 thanks to a four-run, fourth-inning. But the Pirates responded with a four-run outburst of its own in the bottom of the frame. But that would be it for Porterville as it couldn't come back. Taft added two runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to seal its victory.

PC totaled just five hits in the game. Maddox had the biggest, a two-run double as part of the fourth-inning rally. Jayme Knauer also smacked a double while Torres and Dale once again had a RBI.

Sophia Chamberlain took the loss in the second game. She allowed 11 runs (just five earned) and 15 hits as she went the distance.