Cougar Softball Falls in Region I Division II Final to Phoenix College

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (28-18) fell 3-2 to Phoenix College in the ACCAC Region I Division II Tournament Final on May 11. Earlier in the tournament, SMCC rallied from an opening-round 12-7 defeat to Chandler-Gilbert CC on May 9 to defeat Scottsdale CC 5-0 and CGCC 7-5 on May 10 to advance to the Regional Final for the third time in the last four years. Sophomore Nadia Rascon blasted a two-run, walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Cougars past the Coyotes in that elimination game. 

Championship Game Recap vs. Phoenix College (May 11)

The Cougars fought until the bitter end and scratched across two runs but could not plate the tying run in a 3-2 defeat to the Bears. 

PC struck for three runs in the bottom of the first off SMCC starter Angelica Tello (6-9). However, she settled in from there and did not allow another run over her final five innings. She finished with two strikeouts and allowed six hits. 

Freshman Taylor Christensen doubled to start the third and moved to third after a sacrifice bunt from freshman Sabrina Erran. Sophomore Iliana Munoz drove Christensen home with an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 3-1. 

In the sixth, Rascon drew a walk to start the frame and freshman Alex Paboucek pinch-ran for her at first. Sophomore Vanessa Philpot successfully executed a sac bunt to move her to second, and a single from Michelle Balcazar singled to put runners on the corners. A two-out error allowed Paboucek to score. 

The seventh saw Munoz reach with two outs, but the Bears recorded the final out with her stranded on first. Balcazar finished 3 for 3, and Christensen recorded her 11th double. 

Chandler-Gilbert CC Recap (May 10)

Rascon delivered in dramatic fashion as the Cougars overcame a 4-1 deficit to win 7-5 and extend their season. 

The Cougars led 5-4 entering the seventh, but CGCC tied the game on a two-out RBI single. Sophomore Mykenzie Flores persevered and got the next batter to ground out to end the inning. 

Munoz drew a walk to start the bottom of the seventh, and Rascon cleared the fences on a 2-2 pitch to win the game. 

SMCC overcame an early 4-1 deficit with a four-run fifth. Christensen started the frame with a double and moved to third on an infield single from Erran. Munoz drew a walk to load the bases, and a Coyote error allowed Christensen to score.

The Cougars made it 4-3 on an RBI fielder's choice from Philpot, and Balcazar tied the game on an RBI single to score Rascon. SMCC then took the lead on an RBI fielder's choice from Elise Saucedo, which scored Philpot. 

Christensen walked to start the bottom of the first and moved to second on a sac bunt from Erran. She then scored on an RBI single from Munoz. However, CGCC tied the game in the top of the second and added three runs in the fourth. 

Flores (10-3) earned the win with four innings of relief work. She fanned five and worked around six hits and three walks. Christensen started the game in the circle and went three innings with two strikeouts and four hits. 

Erran posted two hits and a run scored, Rascon scored twice and had three RBIs, and Christensen scored twice. 

Scottsdale CC Recap (May 10) 

The Cougars posted a 5-0 victory over the Fighting Artichokes in an elimination game on May 10. Christensen (7-5) tossed a three-hit shutout, fanning nine and walking two to help lift SMCC to the victory. 

Offensively, sophomore Mia Franco hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to break open a 2-0 game. The deep fly was her third of the season, and Saucedo and sophomore Mekaila Smith scored in the play. 

The Cougars broke through in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Philpot hit a lead-off single and advanced to third when Balcazar reached on an error. Smith then drove Philpot home with a one-out RBI single. 

In the fifth, Philpot made it 2-0 on an RBI single that scored Erran. Smith led SMCC with two hits and added a run and an RBI. 

Chandler-Gilbert CC Recap (May 9) 

Munoz hit a pair of home runs, but the Coyotes overcame an early 4-1 deficit with multiple runs in the third, fourth, and fifth to take a 9-6 lead. CGCC added three in the seventh and held off an SMCC rally to win 12-7. 

Munoz homered in the first to the game and added a two-run shot in the second to give SMCC a 4-1 lead. The Cougars got two runs back and cut the deficit to 7-6 after two runs scored on an error in the fourth. 

Flores (9-3) took the loss in the circle with an inning of relief. She allowed one hit, two walks, and three unearned runs. Tello started the game and went six innings with 14 hits, seven earned runs, and one walk. 

Munoz finished 2 for 3 with three runs, three RBIs, a walk, and two home runs. Christesen, Rascon, and Smith had two hits in the loss, and Smith recorded a pair of RBIs. Franco had a double and a run scored, and Christensen scored once.