Softball loses last home game, sophomores honored

It was the worst of times again for the Santa Monica College women's softball team on Tuesday afternoon. On the last home game of the season, the Corsairs fell to the Glendale Vaqueros, 12-1, extending their losing streak to 27.

The loss brings the Corsairs record to just 2-28 overall and 0-15 in the Western State Conference.

The game got out of control for SMC in the second inning, when Glendale scored six runs and extended their lead to 8-0. The Corsairs were never able to recover.

SMC head coach Stephanie Spychaj said that what hurt her team was three errors in that inning.

"We walked a couple of batters, and then three errors don't really help us out," Spychaj said. "It kinda got away from us, slowly but surely." The Corsairs finally got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a home run by shortstop Selma Cortez.

The game also served as "Sophomore Night", a time when the second-year players are honored by their fellow teammates and the athletic department.

"We wish all the sophomores in this game the best of luck in their future," SMC athletic director Joe Cascio said before the game. Flowers were given to sophomores from both teams while they stood at home plate.

After the game ended, outfielder Arlene Garcia, outfielder Marissa Machado, catcher Paola Cabrera, and outfielder Niki Magana each received a basket of gifts from their fellow teammates which included a plastic SMC baseball bat, a blanket and other gifts that were tailored specifically to each player.

The Corsairs will end their season with a doubleheader against the Bakersfield Renegades on Thursday.

"We gotta hit and we gotta play defense," Spychaj said about what it will take to win Thursday. "Catch and throw. That's pretty much it."

Thursday's games will be on the road at Bakersfield College starting at 2:30 p.m.