SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ softball team opened the 2019 season with a pair of close losses to The College of Idaho on Saturday afternoon at Willow Canyon High School. The Spirit fell in the day's opener 1-0 before giving up a five-run lead in a 7-5 loss in the nightcap.
 
With the two losses OUAZ is now 0-2 on the season while College of Idaho improves to 4-0.
 
GAME 1
In the season opener, Sabrina Jimenez went 5.1 innings in the circle allowing just one run on five hits in a tough-luck loss. She stranded a pair of College of Idaho runners in scoring position in the first inning and another runner at third in the third and fifth innings.
 
Neither team would break though until the sixth inning when the Yotes used a double from Marissa Maddox to give them runners on second and third. After Bailey Coronado came on in relief for the Spirit, she misplayed a bunt from Delaney Atkins allowing the runner from third to score the game's only run.
 
OUAZ had limited scoring chances in the game with runners advancing to second base once in the third inning and again in the fourth. In those two chances, the Spirit went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts.
 
GAME 2
After getting shutout in the opener, the OUAZ bats got going in the first inning of game two. Miranda Davis started the game with a walk and then Kelly Stumper reached on an error leaving two on and no out for Emily Stebbins. The Spirit catcher worked the count full from 0 and 2 and hit one over the wall in left for her first home run at OUAZ and a 3-0 lead.
 
The second inning saw Marissa Zacchio and Alicia Young reach to start the inning and then Davis drive Zacchio home for a 4-0 lead. Young would then score on a wild pitch to put the Spirit in front 5-0 after two.
 
C of I would mount a five-run rally with two outs in the third inning behind five hits – including consecutive doubles – and an error to chase OUAZ starter Alexandra McCutcheon with the game level at 5-5.
 
Coronado got out of the third inning on one pitch, but the Yotes tagged her for two runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-5 lead. It remained that way to the bottom of the seventh when the Spirit loaded the bases with two outs before Amanda Almond struck out to end the game.
 
Ashton Aggers had a pair of hits in game two and recorded three hits on the day. Stebbins and Almond each tallied two hits in the doubleheader.
 
Jimenez went the final 1.2 of game two to finish the day with one run allowed and three strikeouts in seven innings of work.
 
With the first day of action complete, OUAZ now gets set to host crosstown foe Benedictine Mesa at Willow Canyon High School in a doubleheader on February 2 at 11:30 a.m.