MESA, Ariz. - The softball team took on former Cal Pac member, Benedictine Mesa today in a twin-bill.
Ben U got on the board in the first inning as they jumped on starter
Lily Rojas for three runs.
But Simpson answered back in the top of the second inning as a leadoff hit by pitch followed by an error put two runners aboard.
Madyson Welch drove home
Hollee Jamison on an RBI single into right-center field followed by a sacrifice fly by designated player
Jillian Walker to cut the Ben U lead to 3-2.
Simpson chipped away from a 4-2 deficit as a leadoff single by Vaillette came around to score on a clutch two-out RBI single by
Alyssa Blanco.
The Red Hawks got the tying run in scoring position on a leadoff infield single by
Nicolena Holen followed by a Ben U throwing error.
A team at-bat by Vaillette drove home Holen for the tying run on an RBI ground out.
Relief pitcher
Jacquelyn Lujan stranded the game-winning run at third base with just one out as she picked up a huge strikeout and induced an inning-ending flyout to keep the game tied.
The Red Hawks claimed its first lead of the day in the top of the ninth inning as it's ghost runner advanced to third on a bunt single by Holen followed by an RBI groundout by
Brianna Lopez-Cortez.
But the Ben U defense made two huge defensive plays as they cut down Holen and Jamison at the plate to keep it a one-run ballgame.
The Redhawks from AZ had the last laugh as they plated two runs in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double and a passed ball to take the opener 6-5.
Holen, Lopez-Cortez, and Vaillette had a team-high two hits each as they combined for two RBIs.
Game 2:
Ben U escaped an early jam in the first inning as they stranded the bases loaded with a great defensive play in left field.
They kept the momentum rolling into the bottom half of the inning as they plated four runs off three hits.
The Red Hawks answered back in the top of the second inning with back-to-back home runs from Holen and Soria.
Holen picked up her second hit of the game on a three-run blast to left center as Soria followed with a solo shot to right center to tie the game.
But the Red Hawks continued its two-out rally as Vaillette picked up an RBI single to give Simpson the 5-4 lead.
Ben U tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo blast before the Red Hawks grabbed the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out RBI single by
Elyse Benson.
Holen picked up here fourth RBI of the game on a line drive double into left-center to pad Simpson's 6-4 lead.
Lujan wiggled out of a bases-loaded one-out situation in the bottom of the fifth inning as she picked up a huge strikeout and forced an inning-ending flyout.
Ben U chipped away in the bottom of the sixth inning as they plated one run before Lujan escaped another bases-loaded jam with a huge strikeout.
The Redhawks from AZ tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as they pushed across the tying run on a two-out single.
For the second consecutive game, seven innings proved not enough as
Hollee Jamison picked up a huge RBI single to give Simpson the 8-7 lead.
A double by Vaillette put two runners in scoring position followed by an RBI single into left field by Welch to extend Simpson's lead to 9-7.
A bases-loaded hit by pitch to
Samantha Diaz drove home the third run of the inning.
Holen capped off the big inning as she smashed her second long ball of the day with a grand slam to give Simpson the commanding 15-7 lead.
Lujan finished the complete game victory as she struck out nine batters over the eight-inning shutout.
Holen had a monster game as she picked up four hits including two long balls while driving home eight runs, a new program record.
Jamison followed close behind with a three-hit performance while Soria and Vaillette each picked up two-hit games as they combined for four RBIs.
Simpson takes part in the Tuscon Invitational tomorrow as they take on Valley City State University at 11 am and Concordia University (Neb.) at 1:30 pm.
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