With the softball regular season winding down and the playoffs still within reach, Pitman knew they needed to pull off an upset if they wanted to say in the hunt when they hosted Atwater High on Wednesday. However things didn't pan out well for the Pride.

Atwater's Cheyenne Mahy, one of the best pitchers in the Central California Conference with the lowest ERA in league (0.33), had another dominant game against the Pride as she allowed just two hits in the Falcons 10-1 victory.

“Cheyenne is a good pitcher so we need to put the ball in play and we didn't do that,” said Pitman head coach Joe Lewis. “They are second for a reason. Now we have to win our final two games if we want to stay in the hunt but it seems to all boil down to Turlock in our final game.”

After Wednesday's game, Pitman drops to 4-9 in the CCC and Turlock improves to 5-8 after defeating Golden Valley on Wednesday. Both are tied for the third and final spot for the postseason.

“We have to beat Buhach and then it will go into the last game between us and Turlock for the third spot if all goes as planned. We will see what happens,” said Lewis.

The Falcons, who blanketed first place Merced last week, were able to showcase much of the talent that has them with double digit victories.

Atwater went on to score four runs in the first inning after the Pride committed two of their five errors in that inning alone, behind Denae Finney, who was later subbed out after sustaining a mild injury to her throwing arm.

Finney went two innings and Atwater went up 7-0 by the top of the third inning.

“One game we look like we are on and look great then the next game is a huge drop off and the errors will come. It’s been a weird season,” said Lewis. “People like to say that happened because we are young but a lot of these girls play travel ball and they are used to it and so I won’t say it’s the reason. We just need to get on a roll and we are still in it, they know what is at stake.”

Alanah Laupua went on to finish the final five innings and allowed just four hits and walked five.

Only Lehua DeLeon and Michelle Robinson had a hit for Pitman.

“Errors have been happening a lot this year, but we didn't hit either,” said Lewis. “We only had two hits and you are not going to win games by only getting two hits and the girls know that.”

Pitman also had to face Atwater without the likes of their regular third basemen in Morgan Aguiniga who sat out with an eye infection.

“She [Aguiniga] couldn't open her eye, she went to the doctor and I shifted the entire lineup around,” said Lewis about missing one of his regular starters.

After Wednesday's turn of events, Pitman must win their final two games to even have a chance of making the postseason.

Pitman will take on Buhach Colony (3-10) on the road at 4 p.m. Friday.