SMCC Softball Splits Doubleheader at Mesa CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (19-13, 14-12 ACCAC) split an ACCAC doubleheader at Mesa CC on April 13, winning 13-3 in game one before falling 6-5 in game two. Sophomore Mekaila Smith led SMCC with three hits, and freshmen Nadia Rascon and Elise Saucedo hit home runs in the game-one victory. In game two, freshmen Brianna Risley, Jasmyne Campos, and Saucedo collected doubles, but the Thunderbirds rallied for four runs in the fifth to snap the Cougars' winning streak. 

Game One Recap

SMCC led 4-0 early, and after Mesa CC cut the advantage to 4-3 after four innings, the Cougars scored nine runs over the final three innings to post the 13-3 victory. 

Smith went 3 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs, a double, and a walk. She had an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the third, and a single in the sixth. 

Four Cougars had two hits in the win: Taylor Christensen, Sabrina Erran, Vanessa Philpot, and Michelle Balcazar. Christensen had a double, scored three times, and walked twice. Erran went 2 for 3 with a double, two stolen bases, a run, and an RBI, while Philpot was 2 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs, and a double. Finally, Balcazar had a double and a team-high three RBIs. 

Saucedo hit her first home run of the season, a two-run blast, in the fifth, and Rascon hit a solo shot in the seventh. Freshman Azlynn Madrid had a double, two runs, and two stolen bases. 

Sophomore Mykenzie Flores (7-1) earned the win with a complete-game performance in the circle. She worked around seven hits and four walks and posted one strikeout. 

Game Two Recap

SMCC led 4-0 early again, but MCC cut the lead in half in the fourth and scored four runs in the fifth to take a 6-4 advantage. The Cougars scored a run in the sixth but could not complete the comeback. 

Risley led SMCC with a pair of hits, including a double, and she scored a run. Freshmen Jasmyne Campos and Saucedo collected the team's other doubles. Saucedo added one run, one RBI, and one stolen base. 

Rascon had the team's other RBI, and freshman Marissa Quihuis had a single and an RBI. Erran and freshman Alex Paboucek had stolen bases and runs scored. 

Sophomore Adenira Marquez (3-1) took the loss in the circle. She threw six innings with seven hits, three earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout.