|
Article audio is made possible by CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. A Talking Glass Media production.
|
The No. 5-ranked Yavapai College of Prescott softball team continues to dominate its opponents. This time, the Roughriders swept the Mesa Community College Thunderbirds on Saturday, February 12th in Mesa, Arizona, with scores of 8-0 and 13-0.
The Roughriders have now won 11-consecutive games. Even more impressive? All 11 victories have come by the run-rule. Overall, Yavapai is 12-1 and 4-0 in ACCAC play.
Yavapai College’s Softball team keeps bringing in the wins and beat Mesa Community College.
Game One
Sophomore pitcher Emily Dix was her usual self in game one inside the circle: dominant. Dix struck out nine Thunderbirds in her five scoreless innings of work while allowing just two hits and one walk.
With Dix holding the Mesa bats scoreless, the Roughrider offense went to work early and often.
In the top of the first, freshman outfielder Sierra Griego led the game off with a double and came around to score on a two-run homer off the bat of sophomore outfielder Kayla Rodgers. Later in the inning, after a single from freshman infielder Lovey Kepa’a, sophomore infielder Cheyenne Sandoval doubled in Kepa’a to push the lead to 3-0.
Freshman catcher Ashley Fields made it a four-run first inning with an RBI double that later brought Sandoval home.
In the top of the second, Rodgers and Kepa’a both launched solo homers (Rodgers’ second of the game and Kepa’a’s sixth of the season) to put Yavapai up 6-0.
After a scoreless third inning, Griego doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on an RBI groundout from Rodgers. In the top of the fifth, the Roughriders went up 8-0 after Fields tripled and scored on an RBI groundout from sophomore outfielder Alyssa Rosales.
After three Thunderbird outs in the bottom of the fifth, YC took home the 8-0 game-one run-rule victory.
Offensively, Griego, Rodgers, Kepa’a, Sandoval, and Fields all tallied two hits while freshman infielder Yaya Kaaialii finished with one.
Game Two
Roughrider pitching logged another shutout in game two with freshman pitcher Emily Darwin getting the start and going three scoreless with three strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Freshman pitchers Genavie Espinoza and Abby Cruz each tossed a scoreless inning in relief, respectively, to complete the shutout in game two and on the day.
The Yavapai offense picked up right where it left off in game two, scoring in each inning, including an eight-run outburst in the top of the second.
In the first, Rodgers doubled and eventually scored on an error to bring home the game’s first run.
In the top of the second, the Roughriders put the game away faster than it had begun. After walks to Fields and Darwin set the table, Griego tallied a bunt RBI single, sophomore outfielder Mia Weckel singled home a run, Rodgers singled in two runs, Kaaialii doubled in Rodgers, Sandoval singled in Kaaialii and Fields capped off the eight-run frame with a two-run single to make it 9-0 YC.
In the third, Griego motored home on a passed ball, and in the top of the fourth, Darwin and Griego both notched RBI singles to give the Roughriders a 12-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, YC brought home its 13th and final run of the contest on an error and after Cruz tossed a shutout inning in the bottom half, the Roughriders finished the day off with a sweep and their 11th-consecutive win via the run rule.
At the plate, Rodgers and Griego tallied three hits apiece, Kaaialii had two, and Weckel, Kepa’a, Sandoval, freshman infielder Makena Riggs, Fields, and Darwin all finished with one.
Up Next
Yavapai is back at home on Tuesday, February 15, for an ACCAC doubleheader against the Paradise Valley Pumas. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon and live streaming and live stats will be available on GoRoughriders.com/Live.
Read more stories in Sports on Signals A Z.com.
Leave a Reply