YUMA, Ariz. - The Arizona Western softball team (31-18, 15-13) won the final home series of the regular season by sweeping Central Arizona during Saturday's doubleheader on sophomore day at Charlie Dine Field.

GAME ONE

Larissa Rueda drove in six runs on three hits to lead the Lady Matadors past Central Arizona 10-1. Rueda hit a home run to center field in the sixth, scoring three, doubled in the fourth scoring two, and doubled in the third scoring one.

Central Arizona Vaqueras opened the scoring in the first after Kiki Garcilazo hit a solo home run to right field.

Arizona Western College Matadors took the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Analy Trejo doubled to center field, and Autumn Arriola doubled down the left field line, each scoring one run.

Jessica Smith started in the circle for Arizona Western and allowed three hits and one run over six innings, striking out four and walking one. The Lady Matadors piled up 15 hits in the game led by Rueda, Trejo, and Corinna Talbot each collected three hits. Alissa Pinon added two hits in three at bats.

"Larry [Rueda] has been unbelievable," Arizona Western head coach Joel Prickett said. "She's one of those that, I'll chew her out a little bit, saying she needs to hit better, and I look at the stats and she had four hits on the weekend. We're expecting more of what you saw today. She's gonna have a great, great career at New Mexico Highlands after her time with us and she'll be close to home where they can watch her play. What a great family. Her defense has also just been outstanding."

GAME TWO

Again, it was Larissa Rueda shining at the plate for the Lady Matadors, hit two more home runs in her first two at-bats and driving in three more runs as Arizona Western defeated Central Arizona Vaqueras 8-0.

Arizona Western jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Rueda homered to center field, scoring two runs, and Alissa Pinon doubled, scoring one run.

The Lady Matadors added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after Rueda homered to left field, and Gabby Weisser walked, each scoring one run.

Autumn Arriola led things off in the circle for Arizona Western College Matadors. The starting pitcher gave up two hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out three and walking two.

Rueda and Arriola were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Arizona Western College Matadors while hitting back-to-back.

"It was a good weekend for us," Arizona Western head coach Joel Prickett said. "Everybody in this league can beat everybody else right now. So, it was a good to get those two wins today and kind of go out on a high note."

Prickett also shared a little on the team's 10 sophomores who played their final game at Charlie Dine Field in front of family, fans and teammates. 

"There's a saying that goes something like why don't they tell you you're in the good old days while you're in the good old days," Prickett said. "We kind of have a saying here that we're gonna play until they take the ball away from us. The group is the epitome of that. They represent that so well, they'll just play every day like it's their last. It's been a really fun group to have, for sure." 

UP NEXT

Arizona Western will wrap up the regular season schedule next Friday and Saturday with a road trip to Yavapai.