#16 Mesa Softball Earns Sweep at Chandler-Gilbert, 6-3, 9-7 (8)

Gilbert, AZ - The #16 Mesa Thunderbirds defeated the Chandler-Gilbert Coyotes Tuesday afternoon, 6-3, 9-7 (8).

The T-Birds kept the line moving in game one, as Mesa collected 11 hits, five of which went for extra bases.  Corinna Rascon began the top of the fourth inning with a double with the next batter, Kelsey Cook, getting hit by a pitch.  Lindsey Paboucek then lined a double to right-center field to score Mesa's first two runs of the day.  Later in the inning, Amber Saiz would single in Paboucek to make it a 3-0 game. 

Kennedy Partee doubled to begin the sixth inning and she would eventually score on a single by Ryann Holmes, breaking a 3-3 tie.  A Bailee Snyder double scored Holmes from second to make it a 5-3 game.  A Coyote outfield error allowed Snyder to score from second to score Mesa's sixth run.

In the circle, Sammy Quezada pitched seven innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out five.

Game two saw Quezada earning the win as well but it was game two starting pitcher, Jordan McClellan, who threw a solid 6.1 innings that put Mesa is a position to take an easier win against the Coyotes.  In the bottom of the seventh inning however, Mesa's defense became sloppy, allowing the Chandler-Gilbert to tie the game at seven.  Before that point, McClellan took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was Partee again though, who had three doubles overall on the afternoon, that doubled down the left field line to score Mesa's go-ahead run in top of the eighth inning.  Amber Saiz would then single in Partee to score Mesa's final run to take a 9-7 advantage.

With the two victory's, Mesa moves to 20-16 overall on the season and 16-16 in the ACCAC.  The T-Birds will play at home this coming Saturday against South Mountain, beginning at noon.