SAN MARCOS, Calif.- The Red Hawks took three out of four from the Firebirds to move closer to clinching the last playoff spot in the Cal Pac with one series remaining.
The Firebirds drew first blood in the series opener by taking game one by a score of 8-6. The St. Katherine bats were able to get to the pitching duo of Jessica Ulshoeffer and Isabella Contreras. The Red Hawk offense was led by Madeline Moorhead who collected three hits while driving in one run. Followed by two-hit performances by Nicolena Holen who registered the lone extra-base hit of the game, Ashley Miller, and Aubrey Zamora.
Game two was all Simpson as Kylee Potes threw a no-hitter in the five-inning contest due to the mercy rule as Simpson took down St. Katherine by a score of 9-0. Potes allowed only two baserunners over five innings of work while striking out seven St. Katherine batters. The offense bounced back and totaled nine runs on eight hits. Senior's Isabella Munoz and Aubrey Zamora led the offensive attack by each providing two-hit performances.
The bats continued to stay hot in game three as the Red Hawk offense compiled eleven more runs on fifteen hits as they defeated the Firebirds by a score of 14-7. Kylee Potes had another quality outing as she picked up her second win in as many days. Potes went the distance and threw seven complete innings while punching out ten Firebirds. Isabella Munoz led the offensive attack for Simpson by tallying four hits, which included a double and three runs driven in. Chloe Garcia had quite the day at the plate as she tallied three hits of her own, which included a three-run blast. Also, Aubrey Zamora played an integral part in the offense as she drove in two runs and scored twice while drawing a walk. Jessica Heck and Marissa Ramirez also collected two hits a piece to round out the Simpson offense.
The Red Hawks' offense saved the best for last as they compiled a season-high seventeen runs on seventeen hits to take the series finale by a score of 17-11. The pitching duo of Isabella Contreras and Jessica Ulshoeffer was able to keep the Simpson offense in the game after a shaky second inning of work. Brook Blades led the offense in hits by tallying three of her own which included a walk. However, the run production came from Chloe Garcia and Cailey Rizzardo as they both homered and accounted for driving in nine runs. Followed by two-hit performances by shortstop Isabella Munoz, right fielder Aubrey Zamora, center fielder Ashley Miller, and catcher Jeslyn Svejda.
With one conference series remaining, the Red Hawks hold their own destiny as they will face the other team vying for the final playoff spot in Benedictine-Mesa next weekend. Simpson currently sits one game ahead of BenU with a four-game series with them coming up.
Until then, the Red Hawks look to stay hot as they have a break in conference play and will take on William Jessup at home for a doubleheader on April 26.
