Sophomore Allie Dobbs homered in her third consecutive game, her state-leading ninth of the season, to account for all of Taft College's runs in a 9-3 loss in the opening game of a Central Valley Conference doubleheader against Reedley College on Tuesday. The second game didn't go the Cougars way as well, as Taft lost 8-4.
Reedley pitcher Emily Grimbleby kept Taft's offense in check, earning both wins in the doubleheader.
She held the Cougars scoreless all the way until the sixth inning in the opener. Morgan Thomas got the rally started by reaching first base after a dropped third strike but was forced out at second on Jade Martinez' fielder's choice. Kaitlyn Allen followed with a single to put runners at the corners for Dobbs. She followed by smashing Grimbleby's pitch to deep centerfield to finally put Taft on the board.
While Taft managed just three hits in Game 1, Reedley exploded for 17 hits off the Cougars' Abrianna Carr. She allowed eight earned runs over the seven-inning complete game effort.
Reedley continued its hit parade in the second game, totaling 11 off Taft Game 2 starter Isabelle Martinez. The Tigers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, added a run in the second, and took a commanding 6-1 lead in the third with three more runs.
Martinez hit a RBI single to drive in Calli Martin for Taft's first run in the bottom of the second and Beige Reinhardt brought home Allen for another Cougar run in the third.
Taft closed out its scoring in the fourth with two runs. Cierra Papademetriou hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Martin while Victoria Rosales also came in to score on a Reedley error.
Martinez (2 for 2, 1 RBI) and Martin (2 for 3, 2 R) lead Taft at the plate. Martinez took the loss despite allowing just three earned runs and 11 hits over seven innings.
The pair of losses dropped Taft to 7-14 overall and 0-3 in conference play. The Cougars will look to snap a season-long seven game losing streak on Thursday (Mar. 14) when they host College of the Sequoias in a 2 p.m. CVC game.