The 1-1 start signified what would be an exciting match-up for the City Knights women’s softball team, as they went up against Mesa College.
But despite Erika Beasley’s violently powerful pitches, Mesa managed to take the game to 3-1 at the top of the third after a drive to left and out of the park by Denisse Martinez.
Knights Leona Reyna and Aurora Tellez attempted to turn the game around but were quickly taken out by Mesa pitcher Brittany Gomez.
Olivia La Mar sends a hearty drive over second to get a single base hit, then teammate Caitlin Aimalefoa hits down the third baseline, putting Knights on second and first.
Unfortunately Ashley Whitmore strikes out with two runners left on base and closing the third, leaving Mesa in the lead at 3-1.
A moment of confusion or miscommunication occurs at the top of the fourth when second base, short stop and center allow a fly ball by Mesa’s Victoria Trujillo to hit the ground, giving Trujillo the chance to take first.
In the bottom of the fourth, City’s Jacklyn Hamme ducks to avoid a brushback pitch to the head by Mesa’s pitcher Gomez, and after a few more inconsistent pitches, Hamme earns a walk to first. However, she is quickly taken out in a double play following a hit by Beasley.
The inning continues without any runs for City, and with only three more innings to go, the pressure begins to mount.
The top of the fifth finds the score at 3-2. Mesa’s Martinez sends the ball down the third baseline giving herself a single base hit. Beasley sends a pitch to Mesa’s Chelsea Herrera, who takes a ball to the body, allowing her to advance to first and Martinez to second.
With two runners on base, Alexis Franco attempts to surprise City with a bunt, but the Knights are right on top of it and Beasley quickly recovers the ball to throw to first base where Aimalefoa drops the ball. Mesa seizes the opportunity to advance and Martinez takes it home, taking Mesa up 4-2.
Mesa’s Natalie Herrera attempts to bring another runner home with bases loaded, but pops the ball to third, where City’s Whitmore makes the easy catch sending Herrera out. Mesa’s Trujillo earns a single base hit. But despite bases loaded, City closes the top of the fifth with no additional runs for Mesa.
The bottom of the fifth is ended after a double play by Mesa, taking La Mar and Aimalefoa out.
The last two innings were quickly played, garnishing both teams no runs and ending the score at 4-2.
The Knights last played Mesa Feb. 25, which ended City women’s softball team’s six-in-a-row winning streak at that time.
At this current match-up, despite fabulous plays and excellent pitching by Beasley, who was chosen as the Pacific Coast Conference Women’s Athlete of the Week during the week ending March 29, City could not turn the game around in their favor.
