COOLIDGE, Ariz. – The No. 3-ranked Yavapai College softball team headed south on Tuesday afternoon for an ACCAC doubleheader against the No. 10-ranked Central Arizona College Vaqueras in a matchup that featured the top teams in the conference and a top-10 NJCAA matchup. The Roughriders derailed Vaqueras 13-game win streak (24-1 overall as well before the day began), defeating them 9-7 in game one and 5-2 in game two. 

"I couldn't be more proud of these young ladies," Head Coach Doug Eastman said. "Batting in a tough atmosphere, I asked the team to compete at a high level and they delivered."

On the season, the Roughriders move to 27-2 overall and 19-1 within the conference and have now won seven games in a row. 

Game One
The Roughriders and Vaqueras went back-and-forth in game one's seesaw battle as Yavapai found itself in an early hole after Central Arizona scored three times in the first inning on a pair of homers. 

After a couple of scoreless innings, the Roughriders cut into the Vaquera lead in the top of the third as sophomore outfielder Mia Weckel walked and fellow sophomore outfielder Kayla Rodgers singled to center to set the table. 

The next batter, freshman infielder Yaya Kaaialii, singled in a run to bring the score to 3-1. Later in the inning, freshman catcher Jasmine Moreno singled in a run to bring the score to 3-2 and cut the deficit to just one. 

In the top of the fourth, Yavapai temporarily completed the comeback with a three-spot as sophomore infielder Alyssa Rosales doubled with one out and was followed by freshman outfielder Sierra Griego who reached first base on a Vaquera error. 

With runners at the corners, Weckel doubled in Rosales to tie the game at 3-3. After a walk and lineout loaded the bases with two outs, freshman infielder Lovey Kepa'a singled in two runs to give the Roughriders their first lead of the day. 

In the top of the fifth, the Roughriders tacked on another run after a Central Arizona error to bring the score to 6-3. 

Central, however, never gave up and countered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth (a two-run double and two-run homer) to re-take the lead at 7-6. 

In a hole once more, the Roughriders stood six outs from defeat as they stepped up to the plate in the top of the sixth inning. That's when Kaaialii tripled with one out and was followed by a walk from Kepa'a to put runners on the corners. 
After a strikeout and Kepa'a advancing to second base on a wild pitch, freshman catcher Ashley Fields stepped up to the plate and delivered one of the biggest hits of the season for the Roughriders, a two-out two-run single that put YC on top once more with an 8-7 score. 

Now with a narrow lead late in the game, Yavapai held the Vaqueras off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth and brought home an important insurance run in the top of the seventh after a Weckel walk and Rodgers RBI triple. 

Standing three outs from victory, sophomore pitcher Emily Dix secured the 9-7 victory in game one by inducing three fly balls in the bottom of the seventh. 

Dix went the distance in the win and struck out seven along the way. 

At the plate in game one, Rodgers and Kaaialii each had two hits while Weckel, Kepa'a, Moreno, Fields, Rosales and freshman infielder Makena Riggs all had one. 

Game Two
The script for game two differed significantly as the Roughriders took control early and never faltered, keeping an early lead safe throughout the entirety of the contest. 

The unwavering was thanks in part to a dominant pitching performance from freshman Emily Darwin. Darwin went the distance in the win and allowed two runs (only one of which was earned), just four hits and struck out eight Vaqueras. 

In the top of the first, YC immediately struck first as Weckel walked, Rodgers singled and Kaaialii doubled to put runners at second and third and bring home the game's first run. 

Later in the inning, Fields (the hero in game one) continued her offensive onslaught with a two-run double that gave the Riders a 3-0 lead. 

After Central pushed a run across in the bottom of the first and the teams traded zeros in the second inning, Fields crushed a solo homer to lead off the third inning and retain YC's three-run lead with a 4-1 score. 

In the top of the sixth, Kaaialii singled in a run to push the lead to 5-1 and despite a Vaquera run crossing the plate in the bottom of the seventh, Darwin and the Roughriders cruised to a 5-2 victory in game two to cap off the sweep. 

At the plate in game two, Fields led the squad with a perfect 4-for-4 game and three RBIs. Kaaialii had two hits while Weckel, Rodgers, Kepa'a and Griego all had one with Griego's being a double. 

Up Next
Roughrider softball is back in action on Saturday at home against the No. 20-ranked Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters with game one of the doubleheader set for 11 a.m.