Benicia High’s varsity softball team got off to a great start at the Elk Grove Victory Tournament, winning one game Thursday and two more on Friday to enter the final day unbeaten.

The Lady Panthers (5-0) opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Oak Ridge. Benicia snapped a 1-1 tie with two unearned runs in the fifth inning and rode the arm of sophomore McKenna Gregory, who made her 2015 pitching debut by scattering five hits with four strikeouts to earn the victory.

Mallory Barnard went 2-for-3 with a run while teammates Adriana Chavez and Shelby Thompson each scored a run. Allie Bullock had Benicia’s only RBI of the day. Brianna Schlattman and Courtney Bowling each had a hit.

The Lady Panthers came back on Friday and blanked Central Catholic, 7-0. Victoria Mackey pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only one hit with no walks and eight strikeouts. Benicia scored four runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take early command of the game.

Annika Johnson went 2-for-4 with three runs and Thompson scored twice. Barnard and Olivia DeJesu each scored once, Bullock went 2-for-3 with a RBI and Nataschia Wibben drove in a run.

Benicia played again Friday evening and squeaked past host Elk Grove, 5-4. Gregory scattered eight hits in a complete-game effort. Benicia scored three times in the first inning, then snapped a 4-4 tie with a lone run in the fifth.

Schlattman had a run and two RBI while Barnard added two RBI. Katie Vretzos went 2-for-3 with two runs and Thompson went 2-for-2 with a run and a RBI. Gregory went 2-for-3 and Chavez scored a run.

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