PC softball splits on the road

The Porterville College softball team overcame its share of adversity to come back for two wins in its final two games of a four-game road trip over the weekend.

After PC lost a doubleheader, 15-2 and 12-2 to Foothill on Friday, Porterville came back to sweep a doubleheader against Mission, winning 7-4 and 9-2 on Saturday. The Pirates played most of the weekend without three of its top players as Ashley Keener, Erin Keener and Lexi Guild, PC’s No. 1 pitcher, were all out with injuries. Guild is out for the season with a back injury and PC coach Vickie Dugan said it’s hoped she will be given a medical redshirt.

In PC’s 7-4 win over Mission, Justine Rhines was the winning pitcher, striking out eight.
Offensively for PC, Shaycie Atene had a hit and two RBI, Maria West and Jessica Heffley each had a hit and an RBI and Ashley Higgins and Chelsie Childs each added a hit.

In PC’s 9-2 win over Mission, West went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Also for PC, Bethany Threlkeld went 1-for-1 and was hit by a pitch three times, Higgins had a hit and two RBI, Atene had a hit and an RBI and Rhines and Childs each had a hit. Childs pitched a complete game to pick up the win.

PC only managed two hits in its 15-2 loss to Foothill. West had a hit and Erin Keener had a hit and two RBI for the Pirates. Kyndal McAnulty and Danela Salas each scored for PC. In

PC’s 12-2 loss to Foothill, Atene went 1-for-1 with a double and Jessica Heffley, McAnulty, Salas and West all added a hit.

Dugan said she hoped Erin Keener and Ashley Keener would be able to return for PC’s next game, its home opener against Gavilan on Feb. 19.

“They’re still fighting on,” said Dugan about her team. “Our goal is to get better every game, make something happen every game.”