YUMA, Ariz. -- The Arizona Western College softball team (28-17, 12-12 ACCAC) split a Saturday doubleheader with ACCAC leader College of Southern Nevada starting with a commanding 7-0 victory in Game 1 before surrendering a late lead in a 4-2 Game 2 loss at Charlie Dine Field. The Lady Matadors split the weekend four-game showdown and remain four games behind CSN with eight games remaining in the regular season. The Lady Matadors failed to make up any ground on the conference leader. 

GAME ONE

Jessica Smith delivered one of the best pitching performances of the season in the opener, firing a complete-game, one-hit shutout while striking out seven and allowing just three walks.

The Matadors set the tone early, breaking through with three runs in the second inning before adding insurance in the third, fourth and sixth. Smith faced just one batter over the minimum through the first six innings, with the only hit she allowed coming on a double in the third. Offensively, Rauni Gallegos sparked the lineup with a three-hit, two-run effort, while Analy Trejo (12) and Alissa Piñon (1) each launched home runs to power the attack. For Pinon, it was her first collegiate round tripper. 

Corinna Talbot chipped in two runs batted in and drew a pair of walks, further fueling a 10-hit, no-error showing for Arizona Western that left zero runners stranded.

GAME TWO

IThe Matadors took a 2-1 lead in the second inning behind a timely RBI double from Laisha Ibarra and a multi-hit afternoon from Léa Fréchette. Brooklyn Cann kept Southern Nevada off balance for six strong innings, yielding just two hits and one earned run, but CSN rallied for three runs in the seventh, capitalizing on two Matador errors to complete the comeback.

Despite out-hitting CSN 8-3, Arizona Western managed only two runs and left no runners on base, underscoring missed opportunities to extend the lead. Fréchette's 2-for-4 effort with a double led the offense, while Ibarra accounted for the team's only RBI. Defensive lapses proved costly in the late innings, as the Matadors allowed a trio of unearned runs that swung the outcome.

Up Next

Arizona Western returns home for a doubleheader against Central Arizona College on Friday, April 24, with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m. at the Matadors' home field. It will be the final home series of the season for Arizona Western with Sophomore Day also in the works.