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Ladies beat Falcons; remain undefeated
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Andrea Mathis notched her fourth shutout of the season on Thursday in Ceres. The senior pitcher gave up just two hits and struck out five batters in seven innings in leading the Ceres High softball team to a 3-0 victory over the Johansen Vikings.

"She did a fantastic job hitting her spots," said Ceres coach Mike Corsaut. "We also played great defense behind her."

The win helped Ceres keep its unbeaten streak alive in the Central California Conference standings. The Bulldogs improved to 7-0 in the CCC, 10-1 overall.

The Vikings fell to 3-4 in league.

"They're the best hitting and fielding team in league," said Johansen coach Jamie Smith.

Johansen pitcher Kristi Martin scattered 11 hits and fanned three batters in six innings. She also didn't get any help from her defense. The Vikings made four errors in the game.

"They came out and hit the ball and we didn't," Smith said. "That was the difference in the game."

Mathis didn't allow a hit in five of seven innings. She gave up one hit in the fourth inning and one in the fifth. Mathis struck out two of the final three batters she faced.

The Bulldogs built a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Heidi Eisenbeis reached first base on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third when Elisha Ferguson reached first on an error. Eisenbeis scored from third on an errant pickoff attempt at second.

Ceres added two insurance runs in the fourth inning.

Monique Castro doubled to left field and moved to third on Jennifer Arnold's infield single. Castro scored on Shelby Olivan's infield single to put Ceres ahead 2-0.

With two outs in the inning and runners on first and second, Eisenbeis lined a single to center field. Meghan Franksen scored from second.

Franksen, Hall, Eisenbeis, Olivan and Arnold each had two hits in the game. Castro went 1-for-3 from the plate with a double.

Ceres blanks Beyer

Mathis pitched a complete game for Ceres. She gave four hits, fanned six and walked just one batter in seven innings as the Bulldogs topped the Patriots 5-0 at Beyer Park in Modesto on Tuesday, March 30.

Ceres collected eight hits off Beyer pitcher Rochelle Joseph.

Ferguson and Arnold both had two hits and drove in one run. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier