Live Oak freshman pitcher Brooklyn Murphey (33) tosses a pitch in the Lady Lions’ 13-1 win over Pierce on Friday, April 19.

LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The Live Oak girls softball team took care of much needed business as they swept a two-game series against Pierce last week, and it kept them on the upper half in the Sacramento Valley League standings.

Live Oak Head Coach Kevin Medeiros told the Herald the easiest way to win games is to play clean ball.

“It’s been our downfall for the losses we have had this season,” Medeiros said.

Live Oak senior infielder Olivia Nanez (6) swings at a pitch during the Lady Lions’ 13-1 victory over Pierce on Friday, April 19.

He added that playing clean ball consists of hitting the ball well and playing error free, and that is a must to be successful in the SVL.

The Lady Lions had no problem hitting the ball last week as they put up 25 runs off 28 hits. On top of the great offensive production, Mederios added he was happy with the defensive play his team showed throughout the week against Pierce as they didn’t commit an error defensively.

Everyone on the Live Oak roster was able to get it into the series and play as both games were shortened to five innings due to the run-rule.

In the series finale on Friday, April 19, Lady Lions pitcher Brooklyn Murphey pitched the five-inning complete game and allowed one hit and struck out seven in the 13-1 victory.

Live Oak was in the fourth spot of the SVL coming into competition this week as three league games were scheduled to be played. 

The Lady Lions losses came as they were swept by East Nicolaus and Colusa, who had one league loss combined going into league play this week.

Mederios expressed to the Herald the scheduled games against Paradise and Durham this week are important for standings in the SVL, and Live Oak has lost four consecutive matchups to the Lady Bobcats with the last victory coming in 2022.

“We have to get the W’s,” Mederios said. He added that preparation for Paradise included cage work to adjust to the faster pitches they’ll see at the plate compared to what they saw a week prior. 

Mederios and the Lady Lions consistently have had to make adjustments to seeing different amounts of speeds coming from the circle.

Live Oak was ranked fifth in the latest Northern Section Division IV poll as of Sunday, April 21, by MaxPreps.