SMCC Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at PVCC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College softball team (22-12, 15-7 ACCAC) swept an ACCAC road doubleheader at Paradise Valley CC on Mar. 25, winning 6-2 and 14-0 (5 innings). Freshman Tazia Blake hit the first home run of her Cougar career, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs, and freshman Rebekah Mendoza tossed a complete game in the circle. In game two, sophomore Nadia Rascon hit two home runs, and Blake added her second of the day as the Cougars rolled to the run-rule victory. 

Game One Recap

The Cougars scored two runs in the second, third, and fifth to post the 6-2 victory. 

Mendoza improved to 5-2 on the year with seven innings of work in the circle. She allowed nine hits and two earned runs to go with two strikeouts. 

Blake hit a solo home run with one out in the second, and sophomore Jasmyne Campos added a sacrifice fly to give the SMCC an early 2-0 advantage. 

In the third, sophomore Sabrina Erran hit a two-out, two-run double that scored sophomores Jada Montoya and Sadie Su'a. 

Freshman Tammy Arnold added a pair of insurance runs with a two-out, two-run single that scored Su'a and Blake. 

Blake was 2 for 3 with two runs, a home run, an RBI, a stolen base, and a walk. Erran was 1 for 2 with a run, two RBIs, a walk, and a double, and Su'a scored twice. 

Game Two Recap

The Cougars fired offensively on all cylinders, finishing with 14 hits over five innings in the 14-0, five-inning victory. SMCC scored twice in the first, once in the second, five times in the fourth, and six times in the fifth. 

Rascon hit a two-run home run in the first that scored sophomore Dionna Leanio. In the second, SMCC executed a double steal that saw Leanio take second and freshman Jerzey Jarvis steal home to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. 

Jarvis hit an RBI triple in the fifth to score sophomore Elise Saucedo, and she scored on an RBI single from Leanio. After Erran singled, Rascon laced a two-run double to score Leanio and Erran. Blake followed that up with another RBI double to score Rascon, and sophomore Sarah Potter brought Blake home with an RBI single. 

With one out in the fifth, Rascon blasted a three-run home run that scored Leanio and sophomore McKenna Kraft. Blake made it back-to-back home runs with her second solo shot of the day and freshman Zaybri Franz picked up an RBI on an error. The final run scored on an RBI single from Leanio. 

Rascon finished the game 4 for 4 with two runs, six RBIs, a double, and two home runs. Blake was 2 for 2 with two runs, two RBIs, a double, and a home run. Leanio also had two hits, going 2 for 4 with three runs, two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a walk. 

All that offense was more than enough for freshman Nuvia Urquiza, who improved to 3-1 on the season. She allowed one hit over four innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Kayle James tossed the fifth inning and had one K.