SURPRISE, ARIZ. – The OUAZ softball team continued its great play during the month of April, splitting a doubleheader once again with #8 Jessup. While a big seventh inning pushed a series victory out of reach, a great effort in the opener on Friday allowed the Spirit to pick up another important conference victory.
OUAZ 5, #8 Jessup 4
The Spirit started out quickly once again, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Brianna Humphries doubled, Brooklynne Esquibel singled her home, and then Esquibel came around to score on a Lauren Russell single.
Jessup responded with three runs in the top of the second, but OUAZ answered right back to tie the game. Serena Jackson singled to lead off the home half of the second, and came around to score to even the game at three.
The next inning, OUAZ would grab what would be the deciding lead. The Spirit took advantage of a pair of Warrior errors to grab a 5-3 lead, one that would never be given back despite a late push by Jessup.
Esquibel and Serena Shine were responsible for half of the Spirit's eight hits in the doubleheader opener. Four different OUAZ batters also drove in a run in the victory.
Riley Shopp had a great start, holding the powerful Jessup lineup at bay after getting the lead back. Alyvia Hernandez finished the final 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three.
#8 Jessup 26, OUAZ 9
The two teams fired up the offense right away, as they each scored two runs in the first inning. The Warriors would score a run in the second and third innings, but the Spirit would take the lead in the fourth.
OUAZ would grab a 5-4 lead thanks to two huge extra-base hits. Lauren Russell hit a two-run home run, her second round-tripper in as many days, then Emily Henard tripled home Jackson to give the Spirit an advantage.
While Jessup scored nine unanswered runs over the next two innings, the Spirit continued to battle back. OUAZ scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to get within four runs, but a big seventh inning by the Warriors pushed the game out of reach.
The Spirit finished with 12 hits, with Esquibel, Russell, and Mia Casadei each pitching in two. Casadei (double) and Henard (triple) had extra-base hits, and OUAZ got home runs from Russell and Humphries.
OUAZ will wrap up its home schedule, while also celebrating its Seniors, in a doubleheader against Menlo. First pitch is set for 11 a.m., with the Senior Day ceremony slated to happen prior to the first contest.
