SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ softball team made history on Saturday in a doubleheader sweep of Menlo at Willow Canyon High School. The Spirit earned a 3-0 win to start the day and then secured a 7-0 win in game two to finish the sweep.
This is the first time in program history the Spirit have swept a GSAC doubleheader and it is also the first time the team has recorded consecutive shutouts. OUAZ is now 12-21 on the season and they are 6-10 in the GSAC.
GAME 1
OUAZ struck for three run in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly by
Emily Stebbins and a 2-run double from
Alicia Young. That would be all the runs they needed as
Alexandra McCutcheon (5-8) shutdown the Oaks for her first career shutout.
McCutcheon scattered six hits and one walk while striking out six. She retired the side in order three times and stranded four runners in scoring position.
Young had two hits in the game, and it was the first time since February 1 she had multiple RBI in the same game. Stebbins also had two hits while
Caitlyn Swisher and
Sydney Saxton Siaki each had a double.
GAME 2
Bailey Coronado (6-7) was even more dominate in the circle during game two. She held the Oaks to just two hits while striking out a career-best 10 batters with zero walks. Coronado retired the first 10 batters of the game in winning her sixth straight decision and securing her second shutout.
The offense followed the lead of Coronado and put seven runs on the board, including two in the first inning. The decisive blow came in the third inning when
Marissa Mitchell ripped a pinch-hit 3-run double to put the Spirit ahead 6-0.
Amanda Almond led the Spirit's 9-hit attack with her third 3-hit game of the season. She drove in a run with a triple in the first inning for the other extra base hit in the game for OUAZ.
Stebbins and Young each added another two hits for the Spirit.
UP NEXT
Having won nine of their past 13 games, the Spirit will be tested next weekend when they head to California for a pair of doubleheaders against the top two teams in the GSAC. They start at No. 12 Vanguard on Friday before facing No. 7 Hope International on Saturday.