Cougars Fall in Doubleheader at Arizona Western

The South Mountain Community College Softball team (2-4) lost twice to Arizona Western in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on Feb. 13. Ali Ashner hit a home run in game one, but the Matadors took a 2-1 decision in eight innings. In game two, Vanessa Gutierrez tossed a complete game, but a pair of early runs held up for Arizona Western in the win.

The first game was a close contest that required extra innings. The game was scoreless until Arizona Western pushed a run across in the fifth.

The Cougars wasted little time in responding as Ashner blasted her second home run of the season to tie the game. She added a double and is now batting .529 in 17 at-bats through six games.

Unfortunately, the Matadors posted the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Christian Smith started the game for SMCC, finishing with five strikeouts and one earned run in six innings of work. Gutierrez (2-2) threw the final 1.1 innings and took the loss.

Adrianaly Morales, Rebecca Goodwin and Gutierrez each had base hits in the game, and Morales and Goodwin recorded stolen bases.

In game two, Gutierrez (2-3) tossed all six innings in the 3-0 loss. She posted three strikeouts and worked around nine hits and a walk. The Matadors scored twice in the second and added an insurance run in the sixth.

Ashner had both hits for the Cougars in the loss, including her third double of the season. She and Jeweliana Navarro each drew a walk in the contest.

SMCC returns to action with a doubleheader against Gateway Community College on Saturday, Feb. 15. Game one starts at noon.