SMCC Softball's Season Ends in 6-2 loss to DMACC

SPARTANBURG, S.C. ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (54-10) lost 6-2 to Des Moines Area Community College (IA) in an elimination game in the NJCAA Division II World Series at Tyger River Park. The Bears struck for six runs over the first two innings to fend off the Cougars, who saw their season come to an end with the loss. 

DMACC scored three runs in the first and second inning and that effort proved to be enough. SMCC pushed across two runs in the top of the third courtesy of a sac fly from Halle Hogan and a bases-loaded walk from Mia Franco. 

Anisa Reynolds and Sarah Potter each finished with a base hit in the season finale. 

Mykenzie Flores took the loss in the circle for the Cougars, allowing six runs and two walks in an inning of work. Angelica Tello tossed an inning of relief and Reynolds went the final four innings for SMCC. 

The Cougars finished the season at 54-10, setting a new school record for wins. SMCC won the ACCAC Title outright and hosted the Region I Division II Tournament for the first time in school history. At the tournament, SMCC defeated Chandler-Gilbert CC and Phoenix College twice to advance to the World Series for the third time in program history. 

Five Cougars earned All-ACCAC and All-Region I Division II honors for their play in the 2023 season: Hogan, Reynolds, Brianna Garcia, Makaiya Gomez and Rebecca Miller. Gomez was the ACCAC Player of the Year and SMCC head coach Brittney Matta was named ACCAC Coach of the Year. 

Gomez finished the season batting .533 with 123 runs, 113 hits, 25 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 88 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. She set new school single-season records in runs and walks (54). 

Garcia finished the year batting .442 with 103 hits, 90 runs, 26 doubles, a triple, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. She set a new school single-season record for home runs. 

Iliana Munoz led SMCC with an 8-for-15 performance in four games at the 2023 World Series. She finished the year with a .443 batting average and 76 runs, 90 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and six stolen bases. 

Reynolds was a two-way threat for the Cougars. Offensively, she finished the year batting .361 with 59 runs, 69 hits, eight doubles, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs and seven stolen bases. In the circle, she went 22-4 with a save, 110 strikeouts, and a 3.33 ERA in 159.2 innings of work. 

Hogan finished the year batting .497 with 57 runs, 92 hits, 23 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 75 RBIs and six stolen bases. 

Mia Franco finished the year batting .316 with 49 runs, 61 hits, 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 48 RBIs. 

Vanessa Philpot finished the year batting .296 with 41 runs, 47 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 35 RBIs. 

Sarah Potter finished the year batting .323 with 37 runs, 43 hits, four doubles, nine home runs, and 33 RBIs. 

Annalise Chavez finished the year batting .347with 34 runs, 34 hits, eight doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 24 RBIs. 

Before an injury cut her season short, Miller batted .402 with four doubles, two triples, four home runs and 22 RBIs in 28 games. 

Jessica Gordon finished the year batting .319 with 23 runs, 29 hits, five doubles, four home runs, and 26 RBIs. 

In the circle, Tello went 17-2 with two saves, 95 strikeouts, and a 4.16 ERA in 124.2 innings. Flores went 9-3 with two saves, 50 K's, and a 4.71 ERA in 81.2 innings.