Yuma Catholic softball falls short in state title game extra innings

Empire walks it off in extra innings to take down Yuma Catholic in the 3A Softball State Championship Game.

TEMPE, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Eva Peace hit an RBI single for the Empire Ravens to walk it off 1-0 over the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks in the AIA 3A Softball State Championship Game.

Empire wins their second straight state title. This was Shamrocks' second title game appearance. Yuma Catholic lost to Empire in the championship game in 2017.

Monday featured a pitchers dual all the way through. Empire's Kendall Freidinger and Yuma Catholic's Cherish Trujillo were dominant. Freidinger held a perfect game through six innings. Trujillo and the Shamrock defense countered with timely strikeouts and defensive outs.

The Shamrocks held the Ravens to four hits through seven innings. Neither offense could break through, so the game went to extra innings scoreless.

In the bottom of the eighth, Empire bunted for a single in two straight at bats. Then with the bases loaded, Peace ripped a grounder down the third baseline for the game winning RBI.

Yuma Catholic graduates four seniors from this years team.