Yakima, WA – The softball team was back in action over the weekend for a four game set against North Idaho College and Yakima Valley College. The Trojans are coming off of a North Region Title last spring, returning 11 of 15 players from that season, and made a strong case for running it back in 2022.
EvCC opened up the first game of the weekend against Yakima Valley, and flexed their muscles early with a dominate 10-2 win in 5 innings (8-run rule). Riley Mae Swanson saw her first collegiate action as a pitcher and went the distance, going 5 innings, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 9. The bats were hot, as every Trojan got on base and combined for 10 hits. Three EvCC players had 2-run doubles including Kayla Tuaoa, Meleana Turner, and Isabelle Hansen.
The next game was a date against NWAC powerhouse NIC, who won back to back NWAC championships in 2018 and 2019, and went 23-4 in the COVID-19 abbreviated season, finishing atop the East Region standings in 2021.
Everett jumped out early putting up a total of 7 runs in the first two innings, and later put the game on ice when they scored 3 more runs in the 4th and 3 in the 6th. NIC was able to get a total of 6 runs on the board by the end of the 6th inning to avoid the 8 run rule, but to erase all doubt the Trojans punched across another two runs in the 7th. Starting pitcher Kaylie Hoskins then got the job done in the final inning to finish the game and give EvCC the decisive 15-6 win. Isabelle Hansen had another good game going 3-5 with a double and drove in two runs. Three other Trojans drove in 3 RBI's including Riley Mae Swanson, Meleana Turner, and Madison German who did it with a 3-run homer. Kaylie Hoskins pitched all 7 innings, and struck out 16 batters.
On Sunday, Everett once again opened up with Yakima Valley. Kayla Tuaoa got the start in the circle, and was able to go 4 innings, giving up 7 hits and 4 runs. Offensively, EvCC did all their work early, scoring 2 runs in the 1st, 1 run in the 2nd, and a big 5 run inning in the 3rd. Meleana Turner pitched an inning in relief, struck out one, and gave up just one hit, and no runs. Riley Mae Swanson finished out the final two innings, with four strikeouts, and no runs on 3 hits. The bats were quiet in the later stages of the game, but more than enough damage was done in those first three innings to preserve the win. Leiloa Bustamante and Meleana Turner led the way with two RBI's apiece.
The finale of the weekend was the closest game to date for the Trojans which required a valiant rally in the sixth inning to reclaim the lead and then hold it down in the top of the 7th to remain undefeated on the season.
Everett found themselves up 5-2 after the 3rd inning, but NIC posted 3 runs in the top of the 4th to tie the game up at 5. Then in the 6th, the Cardinals got 3 more runs to take an 8-5 lead. EvCC pushed a run across in the bottom half of the 6th to cut the deficit down to two runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Madison German came up big with a bases clearing triple to take the one run lead at 9-8. In the bottom of the 7th Kaylie Hoskins reared back and struck out the side in order to end the weekend with an exclamation point. Madison's triple was definitely the offensive highlight, but there were also several doubles including one from Meleana Turner, and two from Kaitlynn Bridgewater as well as Jordyn Lono. Freshman Riley Mae Swanson got the start going 4 innings and giving up 4 earned runs on 8 hits. Kaylie Hoskins finished out the game with 3 innings pitched and got each out via punch out, striking out 9 batters.
The Trojans will return home next weekend to face a Clackamas in a Saturday doubleheader, followed by Lower Columbia on Sunday.