SMCC Softball Splits Twin Bill with Central Arizona

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (6-5) split a home non-conference doubleheader with Central Arizona on Feb. 8, falling 8-6 in game one before storming back for a 14-6, six-inning victory in game two. Sophomore Sadie Su'a homered in both contests and finished the day with six RBIs, while sophomore Nadia Rascon posted four hits, two doubles, and five RBIs to help lift the Cougars to a split with the visiting Vaqueras. 

Game One Recap

The Cougars led early, but six Central Arizona runs across the third and fourth proved too much for SMCC to overcome in an 8-6 loss. 

SMCC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as sophomore Jada Montoya walked to start the frame and moved to second on a passed ball. Another passed ball moved her to third, and she came home on a sacrifice fly from Rascon.

However, the Vaqueras scored four in the third to take a 4-1 lead. SMCC got one back in their half of the inning on an RBI double from Rascon that scored Su'a. 

Central Arizona made it 6-2 in the fourth before Su'a belted a two-run home run in the fifth that scored freshman Jerzey Jarvis. 

The Vaqueras tacked on runs in the sixth and seventh to deny an SMCC comeback, although sophomore Elise Saucedo scored on an error in the sixth and sophomore Jessica Wallace delivered an RBI double in the seventh. 

Su'a finished 2 for 3 with two runs, two RBIs, a walk, a double, and her third home run of the year. 

Freshman Nuvia Urquiza (0-1) took the loss after allowing four hits, three earned runs, and two walks in two innings. Sophomore Aryka Ortega tossed the final five innings for SMCC and surrendered 10 hits, five earned runs, and three walks. 

Game Two Recap

The Cougar offense came out firing on all cylinders, scoring multiple runs in the first four innings en route to the 14-6, six-inning victory to halve the doubleheader. 

SMCC scored three runs in the first as sophomore Sabrina Erran and freshman Kaeliann Glass delivered RBI singles. In the second, sophomore McKenna Kraft blasted a lead-off home run, and Rascon added an RBI single. 

With two outs in the third, freshman Eva Harrison and Kraft singled. Montoya reached on an error that allowed Harrison to score, and Su'a cleared the bases with a three-run home run to center. 

The fourth saw Harrison draw a bases-loaded walk, Kraft bring in a run with a sac fly, and Su'a drive in her fourth run with an RBI groundout. 

Finally, Rascon ended the game with a walk-off, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth that scored Montoya and Su'a. 

Rascon went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, the double, a run, and a walk, while Saucedo went 2 for 2 off the bench with a pair of doubles and a run. 

Kraft went 2 for 3 with two runs, two RBIs, and her first home run of the year, and Su'a was 1 for 3 with three runs, four RBIs, and her fourth home run. 

Montoya scored four runs and added a stolen base, and freshmen Tammy Arnold, Zaybri Franz, and Amry Soriano recorded their first career hits. 

Freshman Alyssa Jemio (2-0) earned the win with six innings of work in the circle. She worked around eight hits, three earned runs, and two walks to post her second win of the year.