Slocum Wins the Day for WU, While Rosas Continues Dominance
March 9, 2024
By Francisco Claudio
The Westcliff softball team was determined to stay atop the Cal Pac standings as they finished their series against USK on Saturday afternoon.
In the first game, Brittney Slocum stole the show on her birthday.
Slocum was outstanding when the Warriors needed it the most as she went 3-for-4, with 2 RBIs, and one run scored.
In the bottom of the first, Slocum doubled to right field, bringing in the game's first two RBIs.
Emily Rosas did her part by throwing for five innings and recorded another six strikeouts, adding to her big weekend.
Rosas allowed just five hits and zero runs scored during her tenure at the mound.
Westcliff added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with a double to right center from Celeste Huffman, which brought in the RBI.
Then Jessalyn Villicana singled to shortstop which would bring home Madison Berry for the fourth run by the Warriors.
Rosas was able to get some rest as Alex Corrales took over the final two innings and closed it out with only one hit and a run allowed.
This was a significant moment for the Warriors, who had been working hard with Corrales to improve her confidence and consistency on the field.
"We've been working with her at practice on the more mental side, and been having a little more mental exercises," explained Head Coach Brandon Wallace. "She's counting numbers as she throws, shortening up her strike zone a little bit, and she's stuck to the game plan.
'We asked her to give us two innings and she came through."
Game 2 was another routine performance by Rosas on the mound as she went all seven innings and only allowed two hits with zero runs.
Both teams were only able to get two hits for the entirety of the game.
The Warriors took advantage of a fielding error by right field which brought in Airilin Ramirez home to score the winning run.
With the sweep over USK, the Warriors have improved to (14-10, Cal Pac 8-0) and are on an eight-game winning streak.
"I think today was a tester for the fourth game because when it comes to it, everyone knows what you're going to be throwing, what you're going to be doing," Wallace said. "All the credit goes to these young ladies for finding a way to pull it off. They just found their way.
"They had heart and determination and weren't going to leave this place without game four."
The team will play for the third day in a row against a nonconference opponent on Sunday over at Fullerton College.
This will be a good time for Wallace and his staff to try some new things and work on the areas that need improvement, but make no mistake, winning is still expected.
Wallace's message to his group was simple.
"Win and get that bread."