SMCC Softball Splits Doubleheader with Scottsdale CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (8-9, 5-5 ACCAC) split an ACCAC home doubleheader against Scottsdale CC on Tuesday, Feb. 18, falling 15-10 in game one before posting an 8-1 win in game two. Sophomore Sadie Su'a hit a grand slam, and sophomore Dionna Leanio added three hits in the game-one loss. In game two, Su'a struck out a season-high 12 Fighting Artichokes, and sophomore Elise Saucedo and freshman Alyssa Jemio blasted home runs to lift SMCC to an 8-1 victory. 

Game One Recap

The Cougars trailed 5-1 early before a nine-run third put them ahead 10-5. SCC chipped away at the lead, cutting the deficit to 10-7 in the fourth and exploding for seven runs in the fifth to take a 14-10 lead. The Fighting Artichokes added an insurance run in the seventh to seal the victory. 

Freshman Tazia Blake scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Leanio in the second for the first SMCC run. 

In the third, sophomore Michelle Balcazar reached on an error to lead off the inning and moved to second after Su'a drew a walk. Sophomore Sabrina Erran singled to load the bases, and Jemio cleared them with a three-run double into right-center. 

With two outs, sophomore Jada Montoya chopped an RBI single, Balcazar reached on a second error, and Su'a blasted a grand slam to give SMCC a 10-5 advantage. 

However, SCC got two runs off SMCC starter Aryka Ortega in the fourth and plated seven runs against Jemio in the fifth. Jemio (3-2) took the loss with that inning of relief and two strikeouts. Ortega threw six innings with 11 hits, four earned runs, one walk, and one strikeout. 

Leanio finished 3 for 5 with one run and one RBI, while Su'a was 1 for 4 with two runs, four RBIs, and a walk. 

Game Two Recap

The Cougars stormed back in game two behind a dominant performance from Su'a (3-1) in the circle. She struck out 12 batters and allowed two hits and one walk over the seven innings. Su'a had multiple strikeouts in four frames in the win. 

After the Fighting Artichokes scored a run in the first, sophomore Nadia Rascon belted a two-run double that scored Montoya and Leanio. 

Saucedo blasted a two-out, solo home run in the second, her first home run of the season. In the third, Su'a hit a two-out, two-run double, and Jemio added an RBI single. 

Rascon earned an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, and Jemio led off the fifth with a solo home run. Su'a added an RBI single in the sixth to conclude the game's scoring. 

In addition to her pitching performance, Su'a was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a double. Montoya was a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs, a walk, and a stolen base, and Rascon was 2 for 2 with three RBIs, two walks, a stolen base, and one run.

Leanio had two hits, including a double, and Jemio was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and her second home run of the season.