YUMA, Ariz. – Arizona Western Softball (18-24, 17-13) extended its winning streak to six games on Thursday afternoon, sweeping GateWay (6-26, 6-26) in a doubleheader on the road, taking game one 8-0 before finishing the sweep with a 5-3 win in game two.

Lady Matadors' freshman Jessie Garcia struck out a season-high 11 batters and allowed just four hits in seven shutout innings to earn the game-one win while also hitting a pair of home runs and going 2-for-4 with four RBIs at the plate.

Arizona Western got the scoring started early, scoring two runs in the first inning and two more in the third before adding a run in the sixth and using a three-run seventh to seal the victory.

Desiree Moran finished the opener 2-for-4 with a home run and a pair of runs batted in while Tinley Schmidgall and GiGi Garcia each picked up two hits in the win.

Just like Garcia in game one, Emily Gamboa went the distance in game two, allowing just one earned run over seven innings and striking out five to lead the Lady Matadors to a 5-3 win.

Both teams got on the board in the third inning by each scoring a pair of runs before the Lady Matadors took the lead in the fourth with their second consecutive two-run inning. GateWay cut the lead to one run in the fifth but the Lady Matadors got that run back in the sixth to maintain their two-run cushion.

Schmidgall led the Lady Matadors with three hits, going 3-for-4 with a double while Jessie Garcia drove in her fifth run of the doubleheader and Gamboa finished the game with two hits at the plate.

The Lady Matadors continue the road trip in Thatcher, Ariz., on Saturday, April 8, taking on Eastern Arizona in an ACCAC doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am.