Fresno City 8, PC 0

Fresno City 2, PC 1

The road isn’t getting any easier for Porterville College softball.

In the midst of a 13-game road trip, the Pirates dropped a doubleheader at Fresno City College, Tuesday.

The Rams blasted PC in the opening game, 8-0, as they attacked starting pitcher Jennifer Gliddon for eight hits in three innings.

Freshman reliever Deven Baum entered with no more luck than Gliddon, who left without a strikeout and has struggled of late in repeating the success of her freshman season.

“Jennifer’s a little down on herself,” PC coach Vickie Dugan said. “She’s gotta get through this slump and she will. She handled all of these teams last year.”

Danielle Nolan recorded the Pirates’ only hit — a single in the first inning.

“I told the girls they need to erase that game and start off fresh for the next one,” Dugan said in between games. “The pitching, the hitting and the defense just weren’t there.”

The Pirates responded with improvements in all three aspects of the second game, but still fell, 2-1.

Gliddon, Stevie Lopez, Tiffanee Anderson and Amber LeBlanc each notched a hit for the Pirates, who dropped to 8-10 overall (1-3 Central Valley Conference).

With Cati Highley on base, LeBlanc’s RBI single tied the game at 1 in the fifth inning. But Marybeth Williams’ solo home run in the next frame put the Rams on top for good.

Porterville had another chance in the top of the seventh inning with two on base, but Nolan was called out on a questionable photo finish at first base to end the game.

“That second game was much better,” Dugan said. “We were knocking on the door at the end but they called (Nolan) out on a close play.”

PC pitcher Kayloni Mikalauski stayed on the mound for all seven innings, striking out three and spotting the Rams just six hits.

The Pirates continue on the road, Thursday, at Merced, for another doubleheader.