ATHERTON, CALIF. – The OUAZ softball team continued conference play with its only trip to Northern California this regular season, and started Friday in a doubleheader against Menlo. After a tough first game, the Spirit bounced back to earn a split with a 6-0 win in the final game.
Menlo 5, OUAZ 1
The Spirit got the scoring started on Friday, having the first two hitters to reach base. Serena Shine singled, then made it all the way to third on a throwing error in the same play, before scoring on a Brooklynne Esquibel single.
Menlo would respond quickly, as they scored one in the first to tie, then took the lead in the second. Neither team would score again after the second frame, though the Spirit threatened with a pair of hits in the seventh.
Brianna Humphries, Lauren Russell and Emily Henard each had a hit for OUAZ. Jazmine Ayala had a great relief appearance, not giving up a run in 4.2 innings of work.
OUAZ 6, Menlo 0
The pitchers' dual carried over to the first three innings of the final game Friday, as neither team posted a run early. OUAZ would be the first team to score again, and would score all of its runs on three identical plays.
In the fourth, Russell hit a two-run home run to give the Spirit the lead. Russell would match that effort in the sixth inning, as she would blast another two-run shot to double the advantage.
Later in the sixth frame, Savannah Sutton would hit a two-run home run of her own to push the OUAZ lead to 6-0. Henard set up the opportunity with a double following Russell's second home run of the game, and in all, the Spirit had four extra-base hits.
OUAZ totaled 10 hits, with eight different players recording at least one. On top of Russell's two-home run effort, Sophie Jackson also had a two-hit performance.
Alyvia Hernandez was solid again, posting a complete game shutout. Hernandez only allowed five hits, and put up four strikeouts.
The Spirit will wrap up its road trip with a visit to Jessup on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Warriors is set for 11 a.m.
