SMCC Softball Stays Busy over Spring Break

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (24-7, 18-4) kept busy over spring break with four home doubleheaders at the SMCC Diamond. The Cougars battled with Eastern Arizona on Mar. 11, No. 11 Kirkwood CC on Mar. 13, Pima CC on Mar. 14, and Lake Region State College on Mar. 16 and finished 4-4 in the eight contests. 

Eastern Arizona Recap 

The Division I Gila Monsters swept SMCC in a doubleheader on Mar. 11, winning 5-1 and 7-5 to snap the Cougars' winning streak. 

In game one, four Cougars recorded a base hit in the loss: Makaiya Gomez, Brianna Garcia, Anisa Reynolds, and Sarah Potter. All were singles, and Potter had the lone RBI, driving in Mia Franco in the bottom of the sixth. 

Angelica Tello took the loss in the circle with 2.2 innings of work, allowing three earned runs and striking out four. Mykenzie Flores tossed the final 4.1 innings of the game and posted four strikeouts and two walks. 

In the second game, the Cougars struck back and led 4-3, heading into the top of the sixth. However, the Gila Monsters scored four runs in the frame, and SMCC could only scratch one across in its half in the 7-5 loss. 

SMCC hit four home runs, and Garcia finished with a pair. She was 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs in the loss. Gomez also hit a solo home run, and freshman Vanessa Philpot blasted a solo home run and added another base hit. Iliana Munoz had a double, and Franco posted a sac bunt. 

Reynolds took the loss in the circle, allowing seven earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. She fanned five and walked six in the loss. Adenira Marquez tossed the final 1.2 innings for SMCC. 

Kirkwood CC (IA) Recap

In a meeting of nationally ranked foes, SMCC and Kirkwood CC (IA) split a doubleheader on Mar. 13, with the Cougars winning game one 5-4 before falling 4-3 in game two. 

In game one, Franco delivered the game-winning RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to score Philpot. Garcia added a two-run home run, and Gomez scored two runs. Halle Hogan had a hit and an RBI, and Rebecca Miller added an RBi.  

Reynolds picked up the win with a complete game performance in the circle. She struck out a season-high 10 batters, walked three and allowed three earned runs in seven innings. 

In the second game, the Eagles scored three runs in the first, and SMCC responded with two runs in the first and one in the second to tie the contest. However, the Eagles plated a run in the third to post the one-run victory and split the twinbill. 

Miller had a triple for SMCC and added a run. Gomez and Garcia each had a single, stole a base and scored a run, and Franco and Reynolds had RBIs. 

Flores took the loss in the circle with a complete-game performance. She allowed four earned runs and walked two with five strikeouts in seven innings. 

Pima CC Recap

The Cougars and Aztecs engaged in a wild ACCAC doubleheader that resulted in a 15-7 win for Pima CC in game one and a 9-3 SMCC win in game two. 

In game one, SMCC led 7-0 after four innings and 7-2 after five. That's when Pima CC exploded for eight runs in the fifth and five in the seventh to post the 15-7 comeback victory.

Gomez hit a grand slam in the loss, while Garcia and Hogan also hit home runs. Garcia went 2-for-4 with two runs, while Hogan had two RBIs and drew three walks. Miller had two hits, and Miranda Martinez and Sadie West scored runs. 

Flores took the loss for SMCC, allowing four earned runs in the sixth inning. Tello started the game and went five innings with six earned runs and three strikeouts. Marquez allowed five earned runs in 1.1 innings of relief. 

In the second game, Pima CC struck for three runs in the first to take an early 3-0 advantage. SMCC chipped away at the lead with a run in the first and second before plating seven in the bottom of the fourth to post the 9-3 victory. 

Reynolds hit a grand slam in the fourth to break the 3-3 tie and added a single. She also earned the win in the circle with a complete-game effort. She struck out four, walked five and allowed two earned runs in seven frames. 

Gomez and Potter each added home runs in the win. Gomez scored twice and added three walks, and Garcia went 3-for-4 with a run, an RBI, a walk, and a double. Munoz had the team's second double and posted an RBI, and Miller recorded her second triple of the week and scored twice. Hogan had a pair of hits and scored a run. 

Lake Region State College (ND) Recap 

The Cougars closed out spring break with a doubleheader sweep of Lake Region State College (ND) on Mar. 16, winning 9-0 (5 innings) and 19-4 (5 innings). 

In the first game, SMCC scored three runs in the second, five in the third and one in the fourth. Potter and Munoz homered for the Cougars, as Munoz finished 2-for-3 with three runs, a stolen base, and two RBIs, while Potter was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. 

Franco had a pair of doubles and finished with a run and an RBI, and Gomez had a double and finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Philpot added a pair of hits and a stolen base, and Reynolds walked three times and stole a base. 

Tello earned the win with three innings of work and allowed one hit and one walk with three strikeouts. Flores tossed the final two innings with three strikeouts and a walk. 

In game two, SMCC scored 11 runs in the first and scored runs in all four frames to post a 19-4 victory. Annalise Chavez hit a grand slam, and Garcia and Munoz also went deep in the victory. Chavez went 2-for-3 with three runs, a double, four RBIs and a walk, Garcia was 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBIs and two walks, and Munoz was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. 

Gomez scored four runs and added two RBIs and three walks, and Jessica Gordon went 3-for-4 with a run, two RBIs and a double. Reynolds walked twice, stole a base, scored twice and drove in a run, and Miranda Martinez was 3-for-4 with a double, a run, a stolen base and four RBIs. 

Reynolds earned the win in the circle with three innings and two strikeouts. Marquez tossed the final two innings and allowed three unearned runs with three walks and two strikeouts.