Another home game and another victory for the Marauders softball team.
Mingus opened their 2019 state title run by defeating Tucson’s Sahuaro High 9-1 on April 30.
“This showing says a lot about our defense, as they were great tonight,” Mingus coach John Brown said.
The Marauders defense allowed only one hit on Tuesday and never let Sahuaro find its rhythm offensively.
On April 30, Sahuaro’s offense batted only .154 and left five runners on base against the Marauders.
With the win, Mingus improved to 24-7-1 this season.
Sahuaro fell to 8-15 with the loss.
After dropping two straight matches at the Las Vegas Spring Jamboree tournament, the Marauders have won their last two games by a 16-3 margin.
The Marauders protected homefield like they had all season, improving to 10-0-1 at home on the year.
“The atmosphere was electric, our fans were great and our kids were fired up and had energy the entire game,” Brown said. “The coaching staff was into it and that is what you want out of a state playoff game.”
Senior Lexi Ough got the game rolling in the first inning after an Ashley McCracken double gave the Marauders a 1-0 lead.
“She has been our leadoff all year, that is her job and she does it well,” Brown said.
With momentum on their side, the Marauders ramped up their intensity.
“It started everything, we like being the visiting team, so we can score first and set the tone,” Brown said. “If we can get through the first inning with a lead, I believe we are tough to beat.”
In the third inning, an Paige Bartel double brought home Maddie Bejarano and Kaylee Watson, giving the Marauders a 3-0.
Bejarano scored again in the fifth inning as Mingus’s lead increased to 4-0.
Not to be outdone, Mingus junior Dylan Sweeney hit her fifth home run of the season, increasing the Marauders lead to 6-0.
Bejarano was not finished, however, as the UCF-commit went yard in the sixth inning, increasing Mingus’s lead to 7-0.
“I would give Maddie the gameball because she has been great all year and hit her 20th home run tonight,” Brown said. “How can you not after a performance like this?”
Bejarano finished the night with three runs, two hits and two runs batted in in four plate appearances.
Junior Jasmine Shults also came up big for Mingus as she recorded three hits and two rbis.
Sophomore Chloe Shults earned the start and pitched three innings for the Marauders.
Shultz struck out three Sahuaro batters and allowed only two hits on Tuesday.
“She was stellar today and did a great job of getting us through multiple innings,” Brown said. “We wanted her to get through Sahuaro’s lineup twice and she came through for us.”
With the win, Shults improved to 7-3 this season.
Freshman Alexis Ayersman relieved Shults in the fourth and pitched the remaining three innings for Mingus.
Ayersman pitched four innings and allowed only two hits and one run.
In Ayersman’s first postseason match, she struck out four Cougars and walked two batters.
“Our plan was to utilize both Alexis and Chloe today so they are both available on Thursday,” Brown said. “Our pitchers both shut down Sahuaro’s offense on Tuesday.”
Ayersman also earned a save, her fourth of the season.
Sahuaro senior Ashley Schlegel scored the Cougars’ one run.
The Marauders then faced off against 12-seeded Vista Grande on Thursday, May 2.
Vista Grande advanced after upsetting the fifth-seeded Coconino 11-2 on April 30.
Mingus split the regular season series with Coconino last month, defeating the Panthers 3-2 on April 2, and on April 4.
