SMCC Softball Sweeps No. 1 Phoenix College

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team swept an ACCAC doubleheader with Phoenix College on Feb. 14, winning 11-8 and 12-10 (5 innings) at the SMCC Diamond. Freshman Mia Franco delivered a key two-run pinch-hit single in the top of the seventh, and Mykenzie Flores shut down a Bears' rally in the bottom half to seal the victory. In game two, SMCC struck early and held off a PC rally in the fifth to win 12-10 and hand the two-time defending NJCAA Division II National Champions a pair of conference losses. 

The wins mark the first for SMCC in the series since 2014 and snapped a 36-game losing streak to Phoenix College.   

Game One Recap

SMCC scored three times in the first inning and led 4-1 after four complete innings. After Phoenix College tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth, the Cougars responded with five runs in their half and tacked on two more in the sixth to hold on for the 11-8 victory. 

Sophomore Anisa Reynolds hit a pair of solo home runs and finished 3-for-3 with four runs, two RBIs and a walk. Freshman Briana Garica hit a two-run home run in the first inning, and sophomore Makaiya Gomez finished 2-for-2 with a run, an RBI and two walks. 

Freshman Halle Hogan went 2-for-3 with a run and a double, and sophomore Rebecca Miller delivered a significant two-run double in the five-run fifth. Freshman Iliana Munoz added a pair of RBIs and a run scored, and freshman Vanessa Philpot scored a pair of runs. 

In the circle, freshman Angelica Tello picked up the win with six innings of work. She allowed six earned runs and fanned six. Flores entered in the seventh and promptly retired three of the four batters she faced to seal the victory and record the save. 

Game Two Recap

The second game between the Cougars and Bears ended after five innings due to darkness with a 12-10 Cougar victory. SMCC led 10-2 after three full innings, but the Bears scored five in the fourth to draw within 10-7. SMCC pushed across a pair in its fourth inning, and Reynolds worked around an error to get the final outs and preserve the doubleheader sweep. 

Reynolds earned her first win of the season with four innings of relief work. She allowed five earned runs and seven hits to go with two strikeouts. Flores started the game for SMCC and allowed two earned runs in the first inning. 

Offensively, Gomez went 3-for-3 with a run, an RBi, a walk, and a stolen base. Reynolds hit another pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the first, and was 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and four RBIs. 

Miller, Philpot and Munoz all had three hits in the win. Miller scored a pair of runs and had an RBI, and Philpot doubled and added a run, an RBI and a walk. Franco scored a pair of runs and blasted a solo home run.