SURPRISE, ARIZ. - The Spirit softball team came into the 2020 OUAZ Invitational averaging 6.7 runs scored per game. While the bats were not as lively on Friday, the pitching was strong and helped OUAZ split the opening day of the showcase.

(25)Marymount 4, OUAZ 2 – The Spirit stayed even with Marymount, with each team scoring a single run in the first and fourth innings. Mashayla Beltran drove in Andrea Rhinehart with a groundout to second, then scored OUAZ's second run in the fourth when Kelly Stumper brought her home with help from an error by Marymount's DeAndria Lockett.

After the miscue, Lockett allowed only baserunner since that point, a walk to Jorden Jefferson, who was thrown out at second trying to steal during the next at bat. The Spirit only mustered one hit, a leadoff double by Rhinehart in the first.

Bailey Coronado pitched six innings, giving up the four runs (all earned) but only giving up six hits. She also fanned six of the 20 batters faced while issuing two walks.

OUAZ 3, Mount Mercy 0 – The offense found its groove, as the Spirit slammed seven hits and took a walk. Rhinehardt had three of those hits, going perfect at the plate in the second game of the day and scoring a run. Samantha Miller had a great game in the box, driving in two runs with a center to single which rolled to the wall, allowing Miller and Rachel Stockseth to extend OUAZ's lead to three in the fifth inning.

Alexandra McCutcheon was fantastic in the circle allowing only five hits for her second career complete-game shutout. She got better as the game went along, as she did not allow a hit in the final two innings. After a tough start to her season, McCutcheon has now pitched 8.1 straight scoreless innings over the past three appearances, compiling a 2-0 record in that time.

The Spirit will close out its appearance in the 2020 OUAZ Invitational with a pair of early games. They get a rematch with (25)Marymount at 10:00AM, then take on Northwest University immediately after.