The Fresno City Softball team looked to shake their rocky start to the season with an 8-0 win over the Hartnell Panthers at home Monday afternoon.

“I think we played really well today,” said Rams’ head coach Rhonda Williams. “Defensively we were solid, we hit the ball well and put pressure on them by running the bases.”

Freshman Kaitlyn Delgadillo pitched for five innings only giving up two hits to the Panthers.

Daci Tovar set the pace of the game for the Rams in the bottom of the first inning where she singled and stole third base. Desarae Moreno hit a sacrifice fly out to shortstop earning a run for the Rams.

Savannah Pena led off in the second inning with a single. After Pena stole second base, Courtney Beckwith hit a sacrifice bunt to move Pena over to third base.

The Rams worked through the entire line up in the second inning earning two walks, a single, and two doubles hit by Infinity Chacon and Elaine Caballero.

With the score now 3-0 it was Teya Vincent who gave the Rams a major offensive boost, sending the ball over the left field fence for a three run homerun for the Rams.  

After Vincent’s homerun and the score now 6-0, the Panthers sent in Jennifer Segura to relieve starting pitcher Serenity Diaz to end off the inning.

Going into the bottom of the fifth inning Rams’ lead off batter Emily Fuente was hit by a pitch and Savannah Pena earned a single. She was awarded second base on defensive indifference, placing both runners in scoring position.

Courtney Beckwith logged the final hit of the game – a single to left field to send home the base runners on third and second base.  

“Base running was great, pitching was great, defense was great, and our hitting was good and that is what it takes to win a game putting all those things together,” said Williams.   

With their first home win on Monday, the Rams are looking to continue to make strides in the pre-season in order to prepare for conference play.

After hitting the road for another pre-season game against Modesto on Thursday afternoon, the Rams will return home for a doubleheader against Sierra College on Saturday, Feb. 23 with games schedule for 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.