(RV) South Mountain Sweeps Twinbill Against Thunderbirds

Saturday, March 29, 2022 - 8:55 pm | Derek Diesner

Mesa, AZ - The Mesa Thunderbirds dropped a pair of slugfests against the South Mountain Cougars on Saturday afternoon. SMCC claimed a 16-12 win in game one and game two by a final of 18-14.

With the losses, Mesa drops to 7-17 overall on the season and 7-17 in ACCAC action. With the pair of victories, South Mountain; who is currently receiving votes in the latest NJCAA DII Softball National Poll, improves to 24-12 overall and 15-9 in ACCAC play.

Game One:

South Mountain struck first on Saturday with a run in the top of the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Mesa would respond with a three-run bottom half of the inning. Alex Reeve; who was celebrating her birthday, led the inning off with a solo homerun. As she rounded the bases, she was serenaded by her teammates in a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday." Two more runs would score in the inning on a crazy play. Following an Ariana Preciado single, Brynlee Golding came to the plate and tried to lay a bunt down to advance Preciado to second. The problem was the South Mountain defense was not prepared for this bunt, and when the third baseman fielded the bunt and threw over to first base; no one was around! The ball squandered all the way down the right-field line, allowing both Preciado and Golding to come around and score to give Mesa the 3-1 lead. Both teams then exchanged runs in the third inning.

South Mountain took control for good in the top of the fourth inning, striking for seven runs to put the game away for good. Mesa would try to rally, but ended up falling short 16-12 in game one.

Alex Reeve and May Obata led the T-Bird offense with three hits apiece.

Game Two:

South Mountain's offense picked up right where they left off in game one during the second game of the double-dip. The Cougars exploded for eight runs in the first inning; which included a leadoff homer by Carolina Olivas and five runs before the first out of the game was recorded. 

Mesa would respond with a five-run fourth inning to bring the game within two runs at 10-8. The T-Birds scored those five runs on four walks, one hit, and one error. In the final three frames, South Mountain outscored Mesa 8-6 to hold on for the 18-14 victory.

The 1-2-3 batters in the Mesa order of Alanie Ornelas, Justine Encinas, and May Obata combined to go 6-for-11 at the plate with seven runs scored, four RBIs, and four walks.

The Thunderbirds head north this Tuesday, to face Yavapai College (31-2 overall, 23-1 ACCAC); which is currently ranked #2 in the latest NJCAA DI Softball National Poll. The first pitch from Prescott is scheduled for 12 Noon.

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