SMCC Softball Sweeps GateWay CC, Scottsdale CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (24-14, 19-13 ACCAC) swept a pair of ACCAC home doubleheaders recently, defeating GateWay CC 13-2 (6 innings) and 3-2 on April 20 and defeating Scottsdale CC 9-1 (6 innings) and 7-4 on April 23. Sophomore Iliana Munoz led the charge offensively for the Cougars, posting multi-hit efforts in all four victories, plus five extra-base hits, five runs, and six RBIs. In the circle, sophomores Mykenzie Flores and Angelica Tello turned in impressive performances, and freshman Taylor Christensen recorded a pair of saves and a win. 

GateWay CC Doubleheader (April 20)

The Cougars scored 12 runs over the final three frames to post the 13-2, six-inning victory in game one against the Geckos. 

Munoz went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, a run, a walk, and two RBIs in the victory. Freshman Michelle Balcazar also had three hits, finishing 3 for 4 with three RBIs, a double, and a run.

Christensen was 2 for 3 with three runs, an RBi, a double, and a walk, and freshman Brianna Risley hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the sixth. 

Sophomore Vanessa Philpot drove in a pair of runs, freshman Nadia Rascon posted a Sac Fly, a single, and a run, and freshman Sabrina Erran added a single, a run, and a stolen base. 

Christensen (5-5) earned the win with six innings of work in the circle. She allowed two runs, two hits, and five walks with five strikeouts. 

Game two was a much tighter affair between the two squads that was decided when Munoz blasted a solo home run in the seventh to break the 2-2 deadlock. 

Christensen had a sac fly in the first, and Munoz had an RBI groundout in the fifth before GWCC tied the game with two runs in their half of the frame. 

Sophomore Adenira Marquez (4-1) earned the win with an inning of relief and two K's. Christensen tossed the seventh to earn her first save of the season. Sophomore Mykenzie Flores started the game for SMCC and went five innings with two hits, two runs, five walks, and three strikeouts. 

Scottsdale CC Recap (April 23) 

SMCC erupted for six runs in the sixth, fueled by home runs from Rascon and Christensen, to post a 9-1, six-inning victory in game one with the Fighting Artichokes. 

The Cougars scored twice in the third, plating one run on an SCC error and a second on an RBI double from Rascon. SMCC added a run in the fourth, and in the sixth inning, Rascon blasted a three-run home run, and Christensen hit a walk-off solo home run in the next at-bat. 

Rascon went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a run, in addition to the two extra-base hits. Munoz was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and sophomore Mia Franco scored a pair of runs and added a double. 

Erran and freshman Azlynn Madrid also had doubles, with Erran scoring twice and recording an RBI while Madrid scored once. Freshman Alex Paboucek added a pinch-hit single and a run. 

Tello (6-7) was impressive in the circle over six innings to earn the win. She worked around five hits and one walk to finish with one run and eight strikeouts. 

The Cougars took advantage of several SCC miscues to post a 7-4 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. SMCC scored two runs in the second, third, and fourth. 

Paboucek had an RBI groundout, and Munoz had an RBI single in the second. Artichoke errors brought home a pair in the third, and mistakes added two more runs in the fourth. 

Munoz finished 4 for 4 with a run, an RBI, and a double, while Balcazar was 2 for 4 with a run and a double. Madrid scored twice, added a single and a walk, and Rascon and Philpot scored once. 

Marquez (5-1) earned the win with an inning of relief. She allowed two hits, one run, and one walk with two K's. Christensen tossed three innings of relief to earn her second save. She allowed two hits, one run, and one walk with one strikeout. Flores started the game and allowed three hits, two runs, and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings.