SURPRISE, ARIZ. – For the second time in seven days, the OUAZ softball team shared a field with Benedictine Mesa. After the Spirit earned a pair of shutout victories last week, the OUAZ would add two more victories over the Redhawks, this time in more dramatic fashion.
OUAZ 2, Benedictine Mesa 0
The Spirit would strike quickly, scoring on the game's first run within its first three batters. After the leadoff batter reached and then was caught stealing, Brooklynne Esquibel reached base and advanced to third on an error. Esquibel would then score on an error with the next hitter, as a miscue by the third baseman would allow Serena Shine to reach.
Hits were at a premium for both sides until the fifth inning, when the Spirit would use two hits to tack on an insurance run. Three consecutive OUAZ batters reached by error, single, then single, with Esquibel using a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to bring home Savannah Jackson.
Riley Shopp was fantastic in the circle, going seven shutout innings for her 10th victory of the season. Shopp allowed just three hits, and struck out seven BenU hitters. The best performance of the contest by Shopp was in the fifth, who had runners on second and third with one out, but struck out the next two hitters to keep a one-run lead.
OUAZ 6, Benedictine Mesa 5
After being shut out in 24 consecutive innings by the Spirit, Benedictine Mesa finally scored, this time with two runs in the first inning. OUAZ would find itself down 4-0 entering the bottom half of the third inning, and would push back right away.
The first three batters of the half inning reached for the Spirit, and the first run came across on an Esquibel single. Mia Casadei would drive in Emily Henard for the second run, and Esquibel would score on a Kelli Samorano single to cut the deficit to one.
After giving up a run in the fourth inning, OUAZ would find the equalizer in the bottom of the fifth. Esquibel singled to start the inning, then pinch-hitter Lauren Russell smacked a full-count pitch over the wall in left center to tie the game.
After battling back the whole game, the Spirit took its first, and eventually deciding, lead in the sixth. Humphries would double to left center, and after advancing to third, Henard would leg out an infield single to make the score 6-5.
Esquibel finished with three hits, a double, and an RBI, leading the Spirit, who finished with 10 total hits. The two catchers for OUAZ (Samorano and Russell) combined to go 3-for-3 and 3 RBI.
Jazmine Ayala earned the victory, and was excellent in the circle to allow the Spirit to come back and win. Ayala pitched the final two innings, not allowing a hit or issuing a walk, and struck out a pair of batters.
The Spirit will get back into conference play with a doubleheader on Saturday against Arizona Christian. First pitch from Willow Canyon High School is set for Noon.
