SURPRISE, Ariz. – In the Spirit's 3-1 weekend against Jessup and Menlo, OUAZ softball picked up their first sweep and first multi-run shutout since March 7. The Spirit started the weekend by splitting a Friday doubleheader with the Jessup Warriors and ended it by sweeping a highly-contested, two-game set with Menlo.

Now 21-16 overall and 5-8 in conference action, the Spirit have won four of its last five and head to San Diego Christian on Wednesday.

Weekend Recap

GAME 1: OUAZ 5, Jessup 0
The Spirit scored all five runs in the first inning, giving pitcher Alexandra McCutcheon all the support she needed in the 5-0 shutout. OUAZ had eight hits over seven innings, including Breanna Gonzalez and Laurynn De Anda who each went 2-for-3 in the game. 

On the mound, McCutcheon was dominate surrendering no runs, striking out seven and allowing no walks while improving her record to 10-7 on the season. 

GAME 2: OUAZ 0, Jessup 14
The Spirit dropped a 14-0 five-inning affair in the nightcap but it was just one of those games where nothing seemed to go right for the home team. Jessup jumped out to a 4-0 lead with the help of three OUAZ errors which led to three unearned runs, but it was the eight hit, seven-run third inning by Jessup that put the game out of reach. For the game, the Spirit managed just four hits with Elysa Moreno going 2-for-2. 

OUAZ pitcher Jazmine Ayala got the start and loss. Her season record dropped to 5-3. 

GAME 3: OUAZ 2, Menlo 1
The Spirit had to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Menlo 2-1. The game was scoreless through 6.1 innings before Menlo pushed one across. In the bottom of the seventh, the rally began with one out when Laurynn De Anda walked and Karlene Chavarria singled.  Pinch hitter, Lauren Russell, tied the game with a double that scored De Anda. Chavarria scored the game winner on an error on the Menlo catcher.  

Picking up where she left off on Friday, Alexandra McCutcheon continued to baffle batters by allowing just one run off six hits. She struck out six and walked two while improving her record to 11-7 overall.

GAME 4: OUAZ 3, Menlo 2
Another one-run contest between these two teams that could have gone either way. With the Spirit leading 3-1 in the top of the sixth, Menlo made it 3-2 with a runner on second and two outs. With Alexandra McCutcheon on the mound in relief, the Spirit squash the threat thanks to her sixth strike out of the game. For the weekend, McCutcheon was 3-0 in 18.2 innings, 11 hits, two runs, three walks and 20 strikeouts.

At the plate, OUAZ was led by Breanna Gonzalez who was 2-for-3 with and RBI.