Ceres High's reigning Western Athletic Conference champion varsity softball team secured a split in league play this past week.

The Bulldogs dropped to 1-3 in the WAC standings after losing 4-2 to the Pacheco Panthers on Friday in Los Banos.

Pacheco improved to 2-2.

"We have a lot of young players," Ceres High second-year head coach Ashley Nicolich said. "We are still learning."

The Bulldogs allowed four runs in the bottom of the third inning versus the Panthers.

"We had one bad inning," Nicolich said. "We couldn't catch up. We need to work on our defense to be able to win games in the future."

Ceres High's Branda Villalpando batted 3-for-3 from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs against Pacheco.

Rebecca DeLeon batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Andrea Duran batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Vianney Perez singled.

DeLeon, Ceres High's ace pitcher, gave up three earned runs and four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings.

Ceres High notched its first victory of the WAC season on Wednesday, topping Livingston 12-3 at home.

"This was their best game all season," Nicolich said. "They played defense very well, only had one error which didn't affect us. They came out hitting and had excellent base running."

The Bulldogs had 10 different players collect at least one hit against the Wolves.

Duran batted 2-for-4 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs.

Perez batted 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and one run.

Priscilla Chavez batted 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

Cheralyn Durossette batted 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.

Karina Pulido batted 1-for-4 with one single, one RBI and two runs.

DeLeon batted 1-for-5 with one double, one RBI and one run.

Joslin Knight batted 1-for-2 with one single and one run.

Villalpando singled twice.

Lysaida Munoz and Isabel Vizcaino both singled once.

DeLeon and Durossette logged playing time at pitcher.

Rebecca yielded no runs and one hit with three strikeouts in three innings.

Cheralyn surrendered three earned runs, scattered eight hits, struck out two and walked two over four innings.

Ceres High will face Central Valley (2-2) on the road today and play host to Los Banos (3-1) on Friday.

Weather permitting, both games will get underway at 4 p.m.

The Bulldogs have never lost to the crosstown-rival Hawks in varsity softball.

"We do not want to lose to Central Valley," Nicolich said. "I think it will be good competition."