SURPRISE, ARIZ. – For the second straight year, the OUAZ softball team opened the season with a doubleheader against Taylor University. The Spirit earned a split in last year's series, but were not so fortunate on Wednesday night.

The Spirit struggled to score runs, especially early. Five of the Spirit's six runs in the two contests came in the 5th inning or later, as the bats came alive just too late to find a victory in the season opening series.

Game 1: Taylor 11, OUAZ 3

The Trojans scored at least a run in each of the first four innings, tallying four runs in both the 2nd and the 4th. OUAZ found themselves down 7-0 before scratching a run across in the third, thanks to a throwing error that brought Andraya Rhinehart around to score.

Taylor responded with four runs in the next half-inning, pushing its lead to 11-1. OUAZ scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, but could not cut the deficit to less than eight runs, giving the Trojans the run-rule win.

Rhinehart scored again in the fifth inning after Katelyn Chambers tripled down the left field line. Chambers recorded the only RBI for OUAZ, as the Spirit's other run in the fifth came Jaymie Moore scored as Heliana Bueno was thrown out second attempting to turn a single into a double.

Half of the Spirit's four hits came in its last at-bats. Bueno, Rhinehart, Chambers and Cherish Paolinelli accounted for the OUAZ knocks, with Paolinelli's double in the fourth being the only extra base hit for the Spirit.

Game 2: Taylor 5, OUAZ 3

Taylor did not start as fast in game two, as they scored single runs in the first and third innings before scoring three in the top of the fifth. OUAZ had only two hits through six innings before coming alive in its final three outs.

The Spirit put together a 3-run, 4-hit inning which ended when Rhinehart was thrown out trying to stretch a base hit into a double. Rhinehart did knock in two runs with that hit, but ultimately left the Spirit two runs short as the game ended. Samantha Miller also picked up an RBI on her single to bring in OUAZ's first run.

Newcomer Cori Turner was impressive in relief, shaking off a tough debut in game one. In 2.2 innings of work, Turner allowed only two baserunners and needed only 22 pitches to get eight outs.

The Spirit will have a chance to take the season series from Taylor on Saturday, but will need the sweep in order to do so. First pitch of game one from Willow Canyon High School is scheduled for Noon Arizona time.