SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ softball team returned home to host Golden State Athletic Conference games for the first time on Friday against No. 9 Hope International. The Spirit dropped the first game 8-2 and then fell in the nightcap 11-2.
 
The two losses drop the Spirit to 3-13 overall this season and 0-5 in GSAC action. Hope International moved to 19-4 and 5-1 with the sweep.
 
GAME 1
The Royals hit three home runs in the win. The first was a 3-run shot in the third inning and gave the Royals a 4-1 lead. They then added 2-run shots in the sixth and seventh innings to provide the final run tally.
 
OUAZ scored first when Heliana Bueno doubled in a run in the bottom of the second. They got their second run in the bottom of the fourth on a Sydney Saxton Siaki double.
 
The Spirit had eight hits in the game. Emily Stebbins also had a double. Saxton and Miranda Davis had two hits apiece.
 
Bailey Coronado (0-4) allowed six runs (two earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
 
GAME 2
HIU would score six times in the top of the first and get three more in the top of the second to lead 9-0 early. Down 10-0 in the bottom of the third, Jorden Jefferson's single knocked in Amanda Almond and then Davis scored on a throwing error by the Royals right fielder.
 
The Spirit's six hits in the game came from six different players and all were singles.
 
Alexandra McCutcheon (2-3) went just two-thirds of an inning and allowed six runs on six hits. Serenida Marquez finished the final 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits.
 
UP NEXT
OUAZ is home again on Saturday to host No. 14 Vanguard in a doubleheader at Willow Canyon High School that starts at noon MST.