T-Bird Softball Takes Two From Gateway, 12-4 (5), 8-0 (5)

Mesa, AZ - The Mesa Thunderbirds softball team swept ACCAC DII opponent, the Gateway Geckos, in two games Saturday afternoon, 12-4 (5), 8-0 (5).

In game one, the Geckos scored three runs in the first inning to put the T-Birds quickly on their heels but Mesa turned things around in the bottom half of the inning by scoring four runs.  Raychelle Hernandez singled to center field to start the inning.  A double by Lindsey Paboucek scored Hernandez followed by a double by Valeria Macias.  A triple by Marissa Ibarra-Palomo scored both Paboucek and Macias.  Ibarra-Palomo then scored on a errant throw to help Mesa take the 4-3 lead.

Tori Gonzalez scored in the 2nd inning off a double by Macias to push the score to 5-3.  Macias had four RBI's in game one, on three hits, two of which were doubles, adding a three-run homerun to finish off the game one victory.

Jordan McClellan was the story in game two as she only allowed two hits in five shutout innings.  She recorded three strikeouts and three walks in her first victory of the season.

The T-Birds move to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACCAC.  Mesa will be back home on Tuesday against Pima then at Chandler-Gilbert on Saturday.