The Turlock varsity softball team handed El Capitan High their biggest defeat of the year in Tuesday’s home Central California Conference battle.

The offense for Turlock scored the second most runs in a game this season after putting up 10 and allowing just a pair of runs and it was enough to secure the team’s second win in the last three games after a 10-2 final.

Turlock scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning followed by a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win, but it wasn’t all pretty.

EC starting pitcher Cassie Gasper and Turlock starter Shelby Frutoz were both nearly untouchable after four innings.

The score was dead even at 1-1, before Turlock finally went on a run.

“We knew we had it in them to put the ball in play in the first three to four innings,” said Turlock head coach Jill Ogden. “In the fifth we just started putting the ball in play and started with an error and that opened the door and the hits started coming.”

Kelly Weber reached base safely to start the fifth inning and two batters later, Sophie Mayol drilled an RBI double up the middle for the go-ahead run to make it 2-1.

With bases loaded and two outs, Jayden Mendoza drilled a three-run double over the right fielder’s head to extend the lead to 5-1. Tyra Hampton capped off the fifth-inning rally with an RBI blooper to right field to extend the lead to five runs.

“We worked a lot on hitting the last two days, trying to make some adjustments and then get up there and being aggressive was really the difference later in the game,” said Ogden. “We had some huge hits from Tyra, and Jayden’s double was something that she had been working on in practice and it transitioned into the game.”

EC scored one run in the top of the sixth before Turlock erased any doubt in the bottom half of the sixth.

Gasper was pulled after just five innings of work, then soon after, Turlock added its final four runs that concluded with a two-run double from Kayla Pollinger.

“Hits were contagious and so once we got going and got up with the mindset that we are going to swing and hit good pitches it got the flood rolling,” said Ogden.

On the mound, Frutoz pitched a complete game once again after picking up her seventh win of the season. She allowed just a pair of earned runs while striking out 10.

“Every game Shelby pitches for us we know we have a chance because she is that good of a pitcher,” said Ogden. “Any team we play in league is tough, that’s just the nature of this league, so we can’t be too worried with who we are playing, we just have to come out and do what we were able to do today and defense did well.”

Jessie Miranda was 2-for-4, two runs scored and a stolen base. Mayol was 2-for-4 with two RBI, a single and double.

Hampton was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Mendoza was 1-for-4 with three RBI. Pollinger was 1-for-4 with three RBI.

Turlock improves to 3-2 in the CCC and 9-6 overall.

Turlock will next take on Pitman High at the Pride’s home at 4 p.m. Thursday.

“It’s a rivalry, so we know they will give us all they have and we need to focus on what we do well and worry about our game and not worry about the others,” Ogden added. “It goes for anybody, whoever we play. If we play our game, then we have a chance. It’s another league game in my mind.”

“It’s a rivalry, so we know they will give us all they have and we need to focus on what we do well and worry about our game and not worry about the others,” Ogden added. “It goes for anybody, whoever we play. If we play our game, then we have a chance. It’s another league game in my mind.”