Softball Earns Two Victories Over Chandler-Gilbert, 5-1. 8-6
MESA, AZ - The Mesa softball team (12-32, 9-27 in the ACCAC) took an early lead in the first game of the doubleheader, not giving Chandler-Gilbert (4-32, 4-30) a chance to get the bats going whatsoever, winning 5-1. The T-Birds also pulled off the nightcap victory 8-6.
T-Bird's Samantha Christensen, pictured right, (Fr., Shelley, Idaho/Skyline) stole the show in the first game, giving up just four hits and one run while striking out four batters in the contest. She held the Coyotes hitless for three innings until Christy Farrell's single drove in Ryland Estrada to earn their first tally in the top of the fourth inning. After that, the Coyotes didn't even stand a chance.
Kyleigh Hanson (So., Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish) came away with a single and a double while recording an RBI on the evening. Everyone else in the lineup had one hit in the victory.
Game two started out similar, as three out of the first four batters hit a single, earning three runs in the first inning.
Hanson and Bridget Kruck (Fr., Lynden, Wash./Lynden Christian) each hit two singles and a double while Kendra Whalen (Fr., Flagstaff, Ariz./Coconino) recorded one single and one double in the contest.
Kelly Pugh (So., Winslow, Ariz./Winslow) struggled on the mound for 1.2 innings. Christensen pitched the rest of the way.
As the T-Birds defense seemed to be holding their own, the Coyotes answered in the top of the seventh inning, earning a run off of a walk that narrowed the lead to two runs. With two outs left, Marissa Toruga (Fr., Chandler, Ariz./Chandler) ended the game by throwing out Coyote batter Morgan Miller winning 8-6.
MCC outhit the Coyotes 10-4 in the first game and 14-11 in the second.
The T-Birds next doubleheader will be against Scottsdale Saturday at noon in Mesa, Ariz.