PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The Yavapai College softball team welcomed fans to Bill Vallely Field for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon when the team took on the Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes in the team's home and conference opener. 

The Roughriders emerged victorious in game one with a dominant 19-4 win and saw their comeback attempt fall short in a game-two loss with a 7-6 final. On the season, the Roughriders are 1-1 in conference play and 1-8 overall. 

Game One
Freshman pitcher Samara Romero dominated inside the circle in game one for the Roughriders, pitching the distance (five innings due to the run rule) and striking out nine while allowing four hits and four runs, only one of which was earned. 

With Romero dominating, the YC offense went to work early and often in their four innings of work, tallying six runs in the first, four in the second and nine in the bottom of the fourth. 

Dominant hitting performances took place up and down the lineup, however, YC was led by sophomore infielder Torie Au who went 3-for-3 with a walk, four runs scored, a double, a homer and four RBIs. 

Freshman infielders Angelica Carrillo and Emmersyn Villa also notched three-hit efforts on the day in addition to each scoring three runs. 

Freshman infielder Hayden McGuire tallied two hits in game one while freshman infielder Brianna Baca, sophomore catcher Amanda Pay, sophomore catcher Brina Lankford and freshman outfielder Ivannya Perez each finished with one. 

Game Two
In the second game of the day, it was Scottsdale who jumped out to a big lead as the Fighting Artichokes led 7-1 after two and a half innings played. In the bottom of the third, however, YC rallied and pushed five runs across to cut the deficit to just one run at 7-6. 

Unfortunately for Yavapai, the last run of its third-inning rally would be the last run of the game as the teams traded zeros the rest of the way and Scottsdale came away with the game-two win and split on the day. 

In relief, Romero tossed four innings of scoreless ball while allowing just two hits. 

At the plate, Villa led the squad with four hits while Baca had three. Au and Pay each finished with two while sophomore outfielder Meghan Kelly had one. 

Up Next
The Roughriders are back in action on Tuesday, March 5, in Phoenix, Arizona, where they will take on the Paradise Valley Community College Pumas with game one of the doubleheader set for a noon start.