Quiet day at the plate for AWC leads to 3-0 loss against Iowa Western

Matadors limited to three hits in 3-0 loss, will face elimination game Saturday

OXFORD, Ala. (KYMA) - The Arizona Western softball team opened the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series with a 3-0 loss to Iowa Western Monday evening at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.

The Matadors entered the tournament after winning the Region I championship and were searching for their first win in the NJCAA World Series since 2014.

However, Arizona Western struggled offensively against the Reivers, managing just three hits in the shutout defeat.

Iowa Western struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Kiana Ledoux lined a hit through the infield to drive in Kennedy Borud for a 1-0 lead.

Arizona Western responded with strong defense later in the inning. On a sharp ground ball from Lauren Black, Larissa Rueda stepped on second base and fired to Analy Trejo at first to complete a double play and limit the damage.

The Matadors threatened in the top of the third when Karina Talbot ripped a ball over the shortstop's head and into left field for a double, but Arizona Western was unable to capitalize.

Trejo added another hit later in the game with a line drive up the middle, but the Matadors could not generate enough offense against Iowa Western pitching.

Arizona Western coach Joel Prickett said the team's lengthy layoff between games may have contributed to the offensive struggles.

"The 17 days off didn't help our bats," Prickett said. "I think that was the biggest thing I was worried about all along. You can't lay off two weeks without real competition, and you can only do so much in practice. We'll come out tomorrow and swing it better."

The Matadors will return to action Tuesday afternoon in an elimination game against the loser of the Florida Southwestern-San Jacinto matchup.