Cougar Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (16-12, 11-11 ACCAC) swept a road ACCAC doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert CC on Saturday, April 6, posting 10-4 and 12-8 victories over the Coyotes. Sophomore Vanessa Philpot went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBIs in the game-one victory. In game two, the Cougars overcame a 7-3 deficit with nine runs over the final three innings to sweep the twinbill.  

Game One Recap

SMCC jumped out to an early lead, scoring five runs over the first three innings. After CGCC cut the advantage to 5-4 in the third, the Cougars plated four runs in the fourth and added an insurance run in the sixth to seal the win. 

Freshman Taylor Christensen, sophomore Mia Franco, and freshman Sabrina Erran had RBI singles over the first two innings. In the third, freshman Azlynn Madrid had an RBI groundout to score sophomore Mekaila Smith, and Franco had an RBI single to score Philpot. 

The fourth inning saw Smith get hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Philpot blast a two-run single, and Madrid record another RBI groundout. 

Christensen and Franco joined Philpot with three hits in the victory. Christensen added a run and an RBI, and Franco finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run. Smith scored twice, and four other Cougars scored once. 

Sophomore Angelica Tello (4-6) earned the win with a complete-game performance in the circle. She struck out five and allowed two earned runs and two walks. 

Game Two Recap

Tied 3-3 after the first, the host Coyotes scored four over the next two innings to take a 7-3 lead. In the fifth, SMCC rallied for four runs to tie the game and added three in the sixth and two in the fifth to post the comeback 12-8 victory. 

Christensen had a sac fly, a pair of Coyote errors brought in runs, and Philpot tied the game with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth. In the bottom of the innings, the Cougars kept things tied by cutting down a runner at the plate for outs twice. 

In the sixth, freshman Nadia Rascon broke the deadlock with an RBi single and more CGCC errors brought in two more. Finally, the seventh saw sophomore Iliana Munoz deliver an RBI single that scored a second run on the play due to an error. 

Munoz finished the game a perfect 4 for 4 with three runs and an RBI, and Rascon was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, a walk, and a run. Erran went 2 for 4 with three runs, and freshman Michelle Balcazar was 1 for 3 with two RBIs. 

Christensen (3-5) earned the win with a complete game in the circle. She fanned 10 Coyotes and worked around 14 hits, four walks, and five earned runs. She also went 1 for 3 with a run, two RBIs, a stolen base, and a sacrifice fly at the dish.