Brianna Schlattman threw a one-hit, five-inning shutout as Benicia High’s varsity softball team opened the Solano County Athletic Conference season Tuesday with a 12-0 victory over the host Bethel Jaguars.

Schlattman was dominant, striking out eight and walking only two. Bethel’s only hit of the day came from captain Cara McClinton, who lined a solid single up the middle in the fourth inning.

“She was hitting all of her spots and her curveball was on, so we just stuck with that,” Benicia manager Kristin Grubbs said of Schlattman. “She did a really good job.”

The Lady Panthers provided plenty of early run support with four runs in each of the first two innings and three more in the third. Shelby Thompson doubled home Katie Vretzos and Alana Combes added a two-out, two run single as Benicia sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning. Bethel errors opened the door in the second inning, and back-to-back doubles from Thompson and Schlattman and a triple from Allie Bullock gave the Lady Panthers a double-digit lead in the third.

“We just kept getting base hits,” Grubbs said. “Everyone contributed.”

Benicia was solid in the field as well. McClinton looked like she had a first-inning single to right until Courtney Bowling raced in from the outfield and threw her out at first. Schlattman fielded a comebacker, wheeled around and started a 1-6-3 double play in the fourth inning.

Nataschia Wibben scored four times for Benicia (2-0 overall). Thompson, Vretzos and Annika Johnson each scored twice, and Bowling was one of five Lady Panthers to have a multi-hit game.

Benicia has outscored its first two opponents this season, 28-2, and has won 14 of its past 15 games dating back to last year. The Lady Panthers will take part in the three-day Elk Grove Victory Tournament beginning Thursday morning against Oak Ridge.

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