The OUAZ softball team started its two-day stint at the 2020 Sterling Scramble with a trio of non-conference games on Tuesday. It was a great day for the Spirit, as they picked up two wins as they continue to fight back toward .500.

OUAZ 10, Missouri Valley College 0 (5 innings)
The Spirit had its bats going early and often, as the offense showed an explosion that it was waiting for. OUAZ managed ten hits, with nine of those coming in the third and fourth innings.

The first four runs came in the bottom of the third powered by Kelly Stumper's two-run double down the left field line. Briana Tucker eventually singled home Stumper, and Tucker came around on a Rachel Stockseth two-base hit.

OUAZ topped themselves in the fourth inning, as they put up six runs in the bottom of the fourth, giving the Spirit a chance to win the game in the top half of the fifth via run rule. Samantha Miller led off the inning with a single and a stolen base, and the floodgates opened. Three different Spirit players collected RBIs, highlighted by Avery Bohn's two-RBI single and a Tucker double that brought in two more.

While the offense was producing the fireworks, pitcher Bailey Coronado took care of business in the circle. She went the entire five innings, allowing only three hits and striking out seven for her third shutout of the season.

Park (Mo.) 3, OUAZ 1
The Spirit were unable to carry the offense over to game two of the day, managing only four hits against Park (Mo.). OUAZ did not record an RBI, as its only run came when Stockseth scored on an error in the second inning to open the game's scoring.

Alexandra McCutcheon pitched well enough in her start, giving up three run and scattering seven hits over six innings while striking out three. The Spirit stayed solid defensively behind her, as they did not commit an error while the Pirates committed three of its own.

OUAZ 8, Waldorf 5
It was an offensive showcase once again for the Spirit, as they got the bats going early in the final game of the day. The Spirit scored three runs in the first inning, as Stockseth and Cherish Paolinelli drove in a run each.

The Spirit added two more runs on a Jada Cruz double in the bottom of the third, but the game became close again in the next half inning. The Warriors added four in the top of the fourth thanks in part to two OUAZ errors to cut the lead to one.

The Spirit did respond and scored two more in the bottom of the fourth to push its lead back to three. Paolinelli recorded her second RBI of the afternoon when she drove in Alex Gill in the bottom of the sixth for one more insurance run heading into what they would hope was the final frame.

Waldorf did make things interesting with its last three outs. Coronado was cruising in her first 2.1 innings of relief, but the trouble started with a leadoff single and a double. While a run did come in to score, Coronado got a lineout to second to record her second win of the day.

UP NEXT
The Spirit will play two more games during its final day of the Sterling Scramble. Weather permitting, they will face Saint Mary at 10:30AM and Benedictine (Kan.) at 1PM.