The Hawks had two dominating victories in a double-header against the Lassen Community College Cougars on Friday, defeating them 7-0 and 10-2.
Hawks sophomore pitcher Tatiana Blass threw a no-hitter in the first game with 13 strikeouts. The batters allowed on base came in the first-inning due to a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Blass said the key to her success was to stay calm and collected.
“I think during the game I just made sure I was relaxed,” Blass said. “I tried to keep cool and make sure that I was doing it for my team.”
The Hawks held a one-point lead until the bottom of the fifth, when sophomore shortstop Malia Babasa hit a double into left-center field, driving in two runs.
The next at bat, sophomore first baseman Emily Johnson followed up with a home run, extending their lead to 5-0 and cementing their victory.
The Cougars got off to a quick 2-1 start in the second inning of the second game.
However, the Hawks responded in the third inning, scoring three runs including an early runner batted in from a double hit by freshman first baseman Brooke Hansen.
From then on, the Hawks controlled the game and allowed no more runs by the Cougars, while scoring an additional five.
The game was stopped early due to the mercy rule, which states if a team is up by eight or more runs after the fifth inning the game can be ended, according to the NCAA website.
After the game, Hawks head coach Kristy Schroeder said she was pleased with her team’s ability to keep their spirits high in the second match, even when the Cougars took an early lead.
“They tied it up in the next inning right away and just kind of went to work after that,” Schroeder said
Schroeder said the Hawks pitching performance was dominant in both games on Friday.
“We’re having a lot of strikeouts and so our defense has to be a little more alert when we do get people on base,” Schroeder said.
The Hawks are off to a hot start this season and will go into their next double-header on Friday at home against Ohlone Community College with a 7-1 record.
