Cuesta Softball went on the road on Thursday and swept Oxnard with back-to-back 10-1 victories.  The sweep moved the Cougars to 8-0 on the season with two games remaining on the schedule.  Pitchers Maddy Mata and Leea Brown both hurled complete games and both improved to 4-0 on the season.  Shortstop Clarissa Ellewein led the offense on the day by going 5-for-8, including a double and a triple, while scoring six times and driving in three more.  

GAME ONE: CUESTA 10, OXNARD 1 (6 INN)

The Cougars went down in order to open the day, while the Condors used a leadoff walk and a pair singles to take the early lead.  After trailing for only the second time this year, Cuesta struck back when Katie Lamar doubled to leadoff the 3rd inning and was doubled home by Clarissa Ellwein to tie the game.  Ellwein was later doubled home by Natalie Ziegler to take the lead and the Cougars never trailed again.  Pitcher Maddy Mata allowed Oxnard only two more hits in the game, while the Cougars added an insurance run in the 5th inning and closed out the game with seven runs in the 6th for the run-rule victory.  

GAME TWO: CUESTA 10, OXNARD 1 (5 INN)

In the nightcap, the Cougars did not give the host Condors a chance and pounded out a 10-0 in their first three at bats.  Ellwein's single to leadoff the game ignited the Cougars' two-run rally and, in the 2nd, her RBI-single kicked-off a four-run inning to blow open the game.  Oxnard fell apart in the next frame as Cuesta put up four more runs off walks and Condor miscues, while producing only one hit in the inning.  The Condors finally manufactured their own run in the 3rd inning to spoil Cuesta Pitcher Leea Brown's shutout bid, but Brown allowed only one more Condor to reach base the remainder of the game and closed out the victory.  

UP NEXT:

The Cougars end the season at Ventura next Thursday (1/3 PM).  The Pirates are currently in 2nd place in the WSC standings, behind Cuesta, however only four of the eight teams in the conference are fielding competitive teams this spring.