Yavapai eliminates top seeded Salt Lake

Roughriders win twice on Wednesday and stay alive in DI National JUCO softball tournament

YUMA, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - During the opening round of the 2021 Division I JUCO Softball National Championship Tournament, Arizona's lone entry, Yavapai Community College, was the only top seeded team to lose. To be crowned national champions, the Roughriders would need to win out.

On Wednesday, (7) Yavapai won their afternoon matchup against (15) Trinity Valley 5-0. The win thrust the Roughriders into another do or die matchup on Wednesday night against the top seeded Bruins of Salt Lake Community College. Salt Lake fell to (8) San Jacinto - South in the afternoon 6-2.

In the nightcap, the Roughriders scored two runs early and it's all starting pitcher Emily Dix would need. Salt Lake cut the deficit in half 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the second. Yavapai added a run in the third off a two out RBI single from Cheyenne Sandoval that scored Mia Weckel from third. The Roughriders added another in the fourth to push the lead to 4-1. Salt Lake generated a late rally but ultimately stranded two runners on with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 7th.

Yavapai survives to day three of the tournament and now face (5) Wallace State at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.