The impressive start of the 2018 season for the Porterville College softball team as well as freshman third baseman Chelsea Ramos continued Monday as the Pirates moved to 6-0 with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Hartnell College.
Porterville had to come from behind in the opener and won 4-3 in nine innings and finished up the day with a 9-1 mercy-rule win in six innings.
Ramos, who was named the State Player of the Week for her efforts last Saturday, might be on her way to a repeat performance. She went a combined 6 for 8 at the plate over the two games and drove in three runs.
For the season, Ramos is leading the state with an amazing .818 batting average and 1.682 slugging percentage. She's totaled 18 hits in 22 at bats this season with 11 of them going for extra bases.
On Monday, Porterville trailed 3-1 after five innings before tying up the game with two runs in the sixth. The game went all the way to the ninth and ended on Angel Geston's walk-off single that scored Shantae Gutierrez.
Shilow Lewis picked up the win in relief after she tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings to close the game. She allowed no hits and struck out seven.
Game 2 was all Porterville. Ramos got PC on the board with a RBI double in the first and made the score 3-1 with a triple that scored Gutierrez. The Pirates scored five runs in the fifth and wrapped up another walk-off win when Grace Tellefsen scored on a Hartnell error in the sixth.
Alexis Rodriguez went the distance in the circle for the victory. She allowed one run and four hits.
PC looks to keep the early-season magic going when the Pirates return to action on Saturday (Feb. 24) with a doubleheader at home vs. DeAnza College. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
