YUMA, Ariz. - The Arizona Western College Softball team (25-12, 9-7 ACCAC) split a crucial ACCAC doubleheader against Yavapai College on Saturday at Charlie Dine Field, falling 9-4 in the early game then rebounding for a 7-3 win in the afternoon finale as the Matadors continued their battle for playoff positioning.

GAME ONE

The Lady Matadors dropped a 9-4 decision to Yavapai in a game that saw Arizona Western's three-game home winning streak snapped. Jessica Smith was dominant early, striking out seven and allowing just one hit through four innings, but the Roughriders broke through with a six-run sixth to seize control.

Larissa Rueda delivered the offensive highlight with a two-run home run, while Rauni Gallegos picked up an RBI. Despite a late push with two runs in the seventh, the Matadors could not overcome the Roughriders' 14-hit attack.

Arizona Western finished with seven hits and three walks in the loss, but defensive lapses proved costly as two errors contributed to four unearned runs. Jessica Smith's seven-strikeout, one-hit start stands as one of the most impressive pitching performances of the season despite not factoring into the decision.

"Yavapai's top pitcher kept us off balance," Matador head coach Joel Prickett said. "It happens, I'm not disappointed, I thought we played hard but just made too many mistakes."

GAME TWO

Brooklyn Cann delivered a complete-game gem, holding Yavapai to four hits and no earned runs while Analy Trejo powered the offense with a three-run homer.

The Matadors wasted no time in game two, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize early control. Gabby Weisser also contributed a home run and two runs batted in, while Aaliyah Soderlund chipped in an RBI double. Arizona Western added two more insurance runs in the fourth, keeping pressure on the Roughriders throughout the contest.

Cann worked around two errors behind her and stranded nine Yavapai baserunners, limiting the damage to three unearned runs—two of which crossed in the seventh inning after the game was well in hand. The Matadors were efficient at the plate, striking out just once as a team and leaving no runners on base.

Gabby Weisser finished 2-for-3 with a home run and Rauni Gallegos added a hit, run scored and a stolen base. Aaliyah Soderlund recorded an RBI double in support of a well-balanced Matador lineup.

"The girls threw well, Brooklyn did really well. Jessica threw really well," Prickett said. "We played hard and now we turn around and host Eastern next Thursday and Friday. We'll just take it one game at a time, I know it's cliche but, in my coaching career I've been to seven World Series and it's great to host a playoff game and all that. Conference titles are about third on my list, we have bigger things we're playing for and still working hard to get there." 

Up Next

The Matadors continue ACCAC play at home, hosting Eastern Arizona College in a doubleheader Thursday, April 2, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m