They say pitching and defense wins championships. Turns out you need a little offense, too.

Benicia High’s softball team managed only two hits and failed to score in a 1-0, 10-inning loss to No. 3 seed Ceres on Tuesday at the Sacramento Softball Complex, dropping the Lady Panthers into an elimination game in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.

It was Benicia’s first loss in the double-elimination tournament, forcing Benicia to beat Vista del Lago on Wednesday to reach Thursday night’s championship round.

“It was a heckuva game with a lot of great plays on both sides,” said Benicia manager Kristin Grubbs. “Both pitchers did well. At this stage of the playoffs with two undefeated teams, you should expect a game like this. It had that championship feel.”

With the game still scoreless and playing under the International rule, Benicia opened the top of the 10th inning with Shelby Thompson at second base. A ground out froze Thompson and Chelsea Mari followed with a fly out that Ceres caught at the warning track, sending Thompson to third.

“I thought it had the potential to get out of the park,” Grubbs said.

Ceres pitcher Callie Nunes struck out the next Lady Panther to end the threat, and the Lady Bulldogs (22-4) started the bottom of the 10th with Andrea Duran at second. After a sacrifice bunt sent Duran to third, Jessica Arreola ripped a single between first and second base to finally end the marathon game.

Benicia (21-6) went only 2-for-30 (.067) against Nunes, who struck out 10. Benicia pitcher McKenna Gregory went 9 1/3 innings, allowed seven hits and struck out eight.

The winner of Wednesday’s Benicia/Vista del Lago game must beat Ceres twice Thursday night to win the championship.

“I’m really proud of how well we played,” Grubbs said after Tuesday’s defeat. “We just have to have that grit and tenacity to come out and get the W in the next game.”

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