SMCC Softball Stays Busy during Spring Break

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The South Mountain Community College softball team (16-12) swept non-conference doubleheaders against Dakota County Technical College (MN) on Mar. 11 and Lake Region State College (ND) on Mar. 13 to stay busy during the Spring Break holiday. The Cougars defeated the Blue Knights 8-2 and 19-3 (5) as freshman Rebekah Mendoza tossed a complete game in the first victory, and sophomore McKenna Kraft blasted two home runs in the second win. Two days later, Kraft and freshman Kaeliann Glass smacked home runs and doubles in the game-one win against the Royals, and sophomore Sarah Potter blasted two doubles in her first games since 2023 in game two. 

Dakota County Technical College Recap

Mendoza tossed seven innings, working around two unearned runs and six hits, to improve to 3-2 on the season. DCTC scored those two runs in the top of the third to take an early 2-0 lead. 

SMCC tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Tazia Blake scored on a fielder's choice, and Jasmyne Campos blasted an RBI double to score sophomore Sabrina Erran. 

In the fifth, sophomore Jessica Wallace hit an RBI double to score sophomore Jada Montoya to give SMCC a 3-2 lead. With one out, Potter walked, and Erran reached on an error to load the bases. Campos then delivered a two-run single to score Blake and pinch-runner Elise Saucedo. Freshman Eva Harrison added a two-run single to bring in Erran and Campos and give SMCC a 7-2 advantage. 

Potter, who missed 2024 due to injury, hit an RBI double in the sixth that brought home Blake and ended the game's scoring. 

Montoya was 3 for 4 with a run, two stolen bases, and a triple, while Blake was 3 for 4 with three runs, a stolen base, and a double. Campos was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, a run, and a double, and Harrison was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. 

In game two, the Cougars hit four home runs and two doubles en route to the 19-3, five-inning victory. 

Sophomore Nadia Rascon went 3 for 4 with four runs, five RBIs, a double, a stolen base, and a home run. Kraft was 2 for 3 with three runs, four RBIs, and two home runs, and Saucedo hit a three-run home run in the 10-run first inning. 

Sophomore Dionna Leanio had the team's second double and went 2 for 2 with three runs and two walks. Sophomore Michelle Balcazar had two runs, and two RBIs, and freshman Zaybri Franz was 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Freshman Jerzey Jarvis finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run. 

Freshman Nuvia Urquiza (1-1) earned her first collegiate win with three innings of work. She allowed four hits, two runs, and three walks while striking out two. Freshman Kayle James tossed the final two innings and allowed two hits, one unearned run, and a walk. 

Lake Region State College Recap

SMCC posted 15-6 (6 innings) and 21-3 (5 innings) victories over the Royals on Mar. 13. 

Glass and Kraft had big offensive days in the game-one victory, each finishing 3 for 5 with a double and a home run. Glass hit a two-run home run in the third and an RBI double in the second, while Kraft doubled in the third and hit a two-run, walk-off home run in the sixth. 

Leanio was 2 for 4 with three runs, three RBIs, a walk, and a stolen base, while Jarvis posted three steals and went 2 for 3 with three runs. Saucedo had a pair of stolen bases, scored three runs, and had two RBIs, and Balcazar was a perfect 3 for 3 with two RBIs.  

Mendoza picked up her second win of the week with three innings of relief. She allowed two hits, one run, and three walks to improve to 4-2. James started for SMCC and tossed three frames with four hits, three earned runs, four walks, and two strikeouts. 

The offense continued to roll in game two as the Cougars won in five innings.

Harrison led the charge with a double and triple, finishing 3 for 3 with two runs and four RBIs. Potter was 2 for 4 with three runs, three RBIs, and a pair of doubles, and Jarvis was 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Erran went 1 for 2 with three runs, two RBIs, and two walks. 

Campos was 2 for 3 with three runs, three RBIs, and a double, and sophomore Sadie Su'a scored three runs, drove in two, and added a double. Montoya stole two bases and scored once, and Wallace and Blake each scored twice. 

Urquiza also recorded her second win of the week in the circle, tossing a complete game with a season-high eight strikeouts. She scattered four hits, three runs, and two walks over the five innings.