The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

The Lady Bulldogs went over seven weeks without a loss. But their 24-game winning streak on the softball diamond ended Tuesday with a 2-1 loss at home to West Valley in battle of Coast Conference North frontrunners.

College of San Mateo (5-1 Coast North, 24-2 overall) got snakebit by single runs in the first and second innings. The Bulldogs got one back in the third inning on an RBI single by Ari Williams, but West Valley pitcher Ashlie Nakano escaped a jam, stranding two runners in scoring position. CSM racked up nine hits on the day, but stranded nine baserunners throughout.

With the win, West Valley (5-1, 21-4) moves into a first-place tie with CSM. The two teams meet again Thursday, April 18 at West Valley.

CSM starting pitcher Siona Halwani took her first loss of the year, yielding two runs on four hits and three walks through two innings of work. The sophomore right-hander struck out three. Her record falls to 10-1.

Andrea DeJesus drew a one-out walk in the first, and it came back to haunt Halwani. After a single by Brianna Chambers Lee moved DeJesus to third, the running game saw DeJesus steal home. In the second, another walk came around to score. Gabriella Diotalevi led off the inning with a free pass, and Alina Perez followed with a single. Then with two outs, Keithleen Gonzalez delivered an RBI single to put the Lady Vikings up 2-0.

Kennedie Magorian entered in relief to start the third for CSM, and turned in a fine performance. The sophomore right-hander fired five shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out four.

Nakano worked six innings, allowing one run on seven hits to earn the win. Samantha Mader worked a scoreless seventh, pitching through a one-out single by Vanessa Lang to close it out. Lang immediately stole second, but Williams popped out to the infield for the second out, and Megan Barstad socked a liner to center field, but it found the glove of Jasmine Mixco to end the game.

Lang, Williams and Emma Kinder each recorded two hits for the Bulldogs.

Skyline baseball wins sixth straight

The Skyline Trojans (4-0 Coast North, 15-8 overall) are off to a 4-0 start in Coast Conference North baseball play, walloping De Anza (1-3, 5-18) by a score of 10-2 in the opening game of a three-game series Tuesday at Trojan Diamond.

The Trojans jumped ahead 3-0 after three. Then leading 5-2, they broke it open with a five-run eighth.

Freshman shortstop Elijah Fairchild paced all hitters with three hits, adding two RBIs and two runs scored. Leadoff batter Ethan Reader went 2 for 4 with a triple and three RBIs. Freshman first baseman Ben Giovannetti added two hits, including his fourth home run in the last three games, a two-run shot in the fourth. Gabe Melara also recorded two RBIs, getting the Trojans on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first, then adding an RBI double in the third.

Brandon Ashley earned the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits over three innings of work. His record improves to 2-1. Mathieu Rocheleau and Josh Pashby each worked a scoreless inning of relief to close it out. Starting pitcher Niaku Heeney departed after four innings, allowing one run on two hits, to take a no-decision.

De Anza starting pitcher Kaleb Dela Cuesta Sato worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits to take the loss. His record falls to 1-4.

Carter, Bowen fuel baseball Bulldogs

The College of San Mateo Bulldogs (3-1, 15-8) overcame an early two-run deficit to roll 12-3 past City College of San Francisco (2-2, 8-13) in the first of a three-game baseball series in San Mateo.

CSM cleanup man AJ Carter went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Will Bowen was 3 for 4 with two RBIs. The Bulldogs banged out 13 hits on the day. First baseman Rowan Felsch added two hits and three runs scored.

Bulldogs starting pitcher Noah Kenney cruised through eight innings of work, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He survived a rocky first, and a two-run single by Jordan Renteria. The freshman right-hander out of Parker, Colorado threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes. Omar Reynoso worked a scoreless ninth to close out the win.

Cañada drops fourth straight

The Cañada Colts (0-4, 12-13) suffered their first shutout of the season, falling 5-0 to Chabot (2-2, 16-8) in the first game of a three-game set Tuesday in Redwood City.

Chabot starting pitcher Daniel Velichko worked seven scoreless inning to earn the win. William Aviles closed it out with two innings of work.

Colts starting pitcher Brady Greene kept it close through six innings. But with Chabot leading 1-0 in the seventh, the Gladiators knocked Greene out of the game, breaking through for four runs. Greene worked six-plus innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six. Relief pitcher Connor Uter gave up the big blast, a grand slam by Nicholas Walsh.

Cañada totaled seven hits, including with two from Ivan Herrera, and two hits and two walks by Dom Avila. The Colts stranded six runners in the contest.