Pitman's softball team quickly put their mercy-rule loss behind them and got right back on track and into the winner's column after striking back-to-back wins on Wednesday from Rainbow Fields.
In the first contest, Pitman went on to defeat Big Valley Christian High, 9-4, followed by a close 4-3 win over Central Catholic after a late rally.
“They were definitely feeling relief knowing how the game before against Hilmar was,” said Pitman head coach Joe Lewis. “That is not how we play and we realized we can't make mistakes like that and win the game and they knew they needed to focus as the team that commits less errors wins.”
After committing a whopping eight errors in their first preseason contest, Pitman went on to play up to their potential by limiting the errors, committing just two in two games.
In the first contest, Big Valley took an early 3-1 lead heading into the fourth until the bats came alive for the Pride.
The Pride went on to score seven runs in the fourth inning alone, batting through the lineup once and it started with senior Star Russo, who got on base with a single.
Taylor Honnette also showed off her speed with an inside the park homer in that same inning, after the ball sailed over the outfielders and into deep left center, scoring all three runs to make it 4-3.
Pitman tallied eight hits in that inning alone and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they cruised through the next three behind the arm of Denae Finney and her complete game performance.
Sophomores Lehua Deleon went 3-for-4 with two triples, Morgan Aguiniga was 2-for-3 and Claire Fountain was 2-for-4.
“The sophomores hit really well for us in that first game,” said Lewis.
In the second contest, Pitman met Central Catholic in what turned out to be a one-run contest.
Pitman went up in the first and opened the game up with a 2-0 lead but before the Pride turned around, CC tied it at 3-3 by the end of the second inning.
The game stayed still with the bats as nobody scored again until the top of the seventh.
Sophomore Holland Henson got on base with a single and then stole second and made her way to third before she stole home to win it for her team, 4-3.
Sam Wood started against CC and went 4 1/3 before being relieved by Finney who went on to pitch for the remainder of the game and allowed no runs.
Pitman will be playing against Central Valley and Modesto at 8 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Saturday.