Oakland, CA - The HNU Hawks had a great start to California Pacific Conference play this past weekend, going 4-0. Sweeping through both Bethany University and Menlo College in two doubleheaders played Saturday in Scott's Valley and "home" in San Leandro on Sunday.
Saturday's first game was a shutout rout against the Bruins, 17-0, behind the pitching of Stephani Fairclough (2 SO in 3 innings) and Nicole Guttormsen (2 innings) before applying the mercy rule and ending the game in 5 innings. HNU blasted 3 HR's with freshman Allison Snider racking up 6 RBI's on 4 at bats, 2 hits, with a double and a homerun. Other HR hitters were senior Jessica Merriam, adding 3 RBI's on a day four players went perfect from the plate with a 1.000 batting average day, with freshman Alexis Moctezuma also hitting 1.000, a HR and knocking in 2 RBI's, while freshman Laurel Clough and junior Chelsie Wilson were also perfect on the day and sophomore Lacey Parodi hit .750.

Game 2 had Bethany fighting back and drawing first blood with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, which held up until the 4th inning, when HNU scored on a single by Rachael Martinez scoring Allison Snider. In the sixth inning HNU tied the game on another run scoring hit by Martinez plating Alexis Moctezuma. Finally in the top of the seventh after a walk with one out to Jessica Merriam and a infield bunt single by Hannah Chartier, Taryn Thomas broke up the tie with a three run home run. HNU added one more run on a hit by Laurel Clough scoring Moctezuma bringing the final score to 6-2. Markie Benavidez-Talbot received the victory on a strong pitching effort going the distance giving up 2 unearned runs leaving her earned run average at 0.00 for conference play.


On Sunday, against Menlo, the Oaks had trouble solving the Hawk's pitching. Markie Benavides-Talbott pitched the first game shut out giving up 5 hits in 5 innings with 2 strike outs. The offense was fueled by Taryn Thomas at the top of the lineup with a single, a triple and 2 RBI's while scoring one run. Alexis Moctezuma had a 2 RBI triple as well as 2 runs scored, with Laurel Clough contributing 2 hits and 2 RBI's and a run scored. The final score was 10-0.


The momentum provided by Game 1 propelled the Hawks to a 5-0 win in the second game of the doubleheasder against Menlo. Stephanie Fairclough pitched a complete 7 inning shutout giving up just 4 hits with 2 strikeouts. The offense was propelled by the bottom half of the Hawks lineup with Jessica Merriam leading the way with 2 hits, 2 runs and an RBI. Jordynn Elwood offered a hit, a run scored and an RBI, while Alexis Moctezuma once again chipped in with 3 hits (one double) and 2 RBI's.