Everett, WA – Trojan softball finally got to play their first home game of the 2024 season, and handled north region foe Skagit Valley handedly, 10-2 in game one and 12-4 in game two.  EvCC battled to a 5-3 non-conference record and returned home to Gaffney Field to face a Cardinal squad that's had a slow start, going 0-8 but against tough schedule and had two narrow losses by scores of 15-14 and 14-13.

The Trojans wasted no time, getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning on an Emma Hansen RBI single, and Alissa Hermansen's ground out RBI.  SVC answered in the top of the 2^nd with two runs off a double, but got the two back in the bottom of the 3^rd.  It was a big 5^th inning that produced 6 runs for the Trojans to enact the 8-run rule and end the game after four and a half innings.  The Trojans scored 10 runs on 12 hits while only giving up the two.  Hermansen pitched all five innings, giving up 8 hits (only one extra base hit) and struck out five batters.  Taryn Takayoshi had the hot bat for Everett who had three hits, including a double and drove in a run.  Alli Wilson connected on her first triple of the season and drove in 3 runs.  Hermansen helped herself out in the circle by going 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI's. 

In game two, the Cardinals showed fight by scoring two runs in the top of the first.  Takayoshi kept her bat going and helped Everett get one back on an RBI single after Gracie Salverda got on via walk and then proceeded to steal second (9 stolen bases on the season).  The Trojans then blew the game open in the bottom of the 2^nd that was kicked off with back-to-back doubles by Layna Cowin and Emily "Lu" Wilson. Emma Hansen also connected with her second triple of the season and EvCC put up 6 big runs before the inning would conclude. 

The Trojans got three more in the bottom of the third to take a 10-2 lead and threaten to end the game early again but Skagit Valley hit a two-run home run to climb back within two.  Starting pitcher Ava Puaatuua got out of the inning with a strikeout and limited the damage to just the two runs.  Ava led off the 5^th with a single, and Salverda followed with a walk putting on the two runs needed for the 8 run rule.  Hansen connected on her third hit of the game and Everett went on to win it 14-2. Puaatuua finished the game giving up 4 runs on 9 hits, and struck out 4 batters.  Hansen's 3 hits drove in a total of 4 runs, and in addition to her work in the circle Puaatuua also had two hits, including a triple.  Alli Wilson drove in another 3 runs to total 6 on the day. 

Everett will turn around to play on the road at Shoreline on Sunday with 12:30pm and 2:30pm game times.