Lady Warriors Shattered School-Records in Dominant Double-Header Sweep
Nelson Blew past the Blue Angels in Striking Fashion
On a cool and blustery afternoon, the Nelson Lady Warriors softball team (8-10) delivered the most dominant offensive performances in program-history, demolishing the Mount Mary Blue Angels by a combined score of 37-6 in a doubleheader sweep at Rose Mofford Sports Complex. The twin bill lasted just 9.1 total innings, with Nelson setting multiple school records (including a 26-run outburst in Game 1, 23 earned, on 23 hits), while out-hitting their opponents 36-8 across the two games.
Game 1: Nelson 26, Mount Mary 5 (4 innings – Run-Rule)
The Warriors jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring on two errors and two doubles, capped by a two-run double from Stephany Aguirre. Mount Mary scratched across three runs in the top of the second on one hit and three Nelson errors (the Warriors finished with five defensive miscues total – although none in the second game), but that would be the end of the Blue Angels' offense.
The bottom of the second became the greatest single inning in school-history. After the first three batters reached, Charli York crushed the first pitch she saw for a towering grand slam, blowing the game open at 9-3 and ending the day for Mount Mary's starter (7 hits, 9 runs/6 earned, 2 walks, 1 K in just 3 outs recorded). Unfortunately for their relief pitcher, she fared no better against the dominant Warriors offense.
As if a merry-go-round spinning out of control, the offense reached a level of near perfection hitherto unheard of: Vanessa Philpot followed York with a triple to right on the first pitch she saw. After the first out, the next nine Warriors reached base in order without a single out recorded:
- Catalina Sanchez: RBI single
- Stephany Aguirre: RBI double
- Mikki Green: walk
- Briyanei Celaya: RBI single
- Kiley Hernandez: RBI single
- Estevannie Rojas: single
- Charli York: 2-RBI single
- Vanessa Philpot: 2-RBI double
- Emily Quigg: RBI single
After Quigg stole second, Sanchez flied out, and Aguirre delivered the final blow – an RBI double that capped an 18-at-bat, 14-run, 13-hit masterpiece, ballooning the score to 19-3 after just 12 total outs recorded between both sides.
Nelson tacked on four more in the third (including a Philpot two-run double and a Philpot steal of home on a double-steal attempt) and three in the fourth (Hernandez RBI single and York's second homer of the day, a two-run shot to left-center). The umpires invoked the run-rule mercy after four innings, ending the game at 26-5.
In the victory, the Lady Warriors set program records for runs (26), hits (23), and runs in an inning (14), while Mount Mary's reliever surrendered 16 hits and 17 runs (16 earned) in three innings with no strikeouts.
In the cirle for Nelson, Yanelyssia Chavez earned her second win of the season, allowing just 1 hit and 3 runs (1 earned) with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts before Kelly Katalbas closed with three near perfect innings herself, allowing 1 hit and striking out 2.
Game 2: Nelson 11, Mount Mary 6 (5.1 innings – Run-Rule)
The Warriors again struck early, scoring three in the bottom of the first on a Vanessa Philpot two-run double and a wild throw that allowed Emily Quigg to score. After a scoreless second (the only half-inning Nelson failed to score on the day), Mount Mary tied the game in the top of the third, their best, and final, rally of the short afternoon.
As if it was Déjà vu all over again, Nelson responded with another lopsided inning, scoring six runs in the bottom of the fourth. After the first three runners reached, Estevannie Rojas cleared the bases with a three-run triple. Charli York grounded out to score Rojas before Catalina Sanchez reached on an error (allowing Philpot to score), and Amber Lopez grounded out to drive in Quigg for a 9-3 lead.
After mount Mary went scoreless once again in the top of the fifth, Nelson was forced to open the bottom of the inning. With one-out, Kiley Hernandez doubled to center, Rojas followed with a two-run double to left-center to push the lead to 11-6, and the mercy rule was formally triggered, ending the game.
Several players posted historic totals across the double-header:
- Charli York: 4-for-7, 9 RBI, 5 runs, 2 HR
- Vanessa Philpot: 4-for-7, 7 RBI, 6 runs
- Catalina Sanchez: 5-for-7, 4 RBI, 4 runs
- Stephany Aguirre: 3-for-3, 4 RBI, 1 run
- Estevannie Rojas: 5-for-6, 3 RBI, 5 runs
- Kiley Hernandez: 5-for-8, 2 RBI, 6 runs
- Briyanei Celaya: 4-for-7, 4 runs, 1 RBI
The 37-6 combined scoreline, 36 hits, and 26-run Game 1 outburst set multiple program records and marked the most dominant offensive day in Lady Warriors history. After a tough stretch, Nelson has now won five of their last seven games and is playing with confidence and firepower at the plate.
See the Nelson Warriors' softball page for their upcoming schedule.
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