Warriors Show Spirit in Softball Split with Ottawa

The Nelson Lady Warriors softball team (16-18) split a doubleheader on the road against the Ottawa Spirit at Willow Canyon High School, falling 8-0 in five innings (run-rule) in Game 1 before rallying for an 8-6 victory in Game 2.

Game 1: Ottawa 8, Nelson 0 (5 innings – Run-Rule)
The Spirit jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, then broke the game wide open in the second. After back-to-back hits, two walks loaded the bases for Kinzy Creighton, who crushed a grand slam to left field, pushing the lead to 6-0. Ottawa loaded the bases again immediately after, but Stephany Aguirre entered in relief of struggling starter Yanelyssia Chavez and slammed the door, allowing no further damage in the inning.

The Spirit added two more runs in the third to make it 8-0 setting up the run-rule. Nelson's offense managed only three hits and two walks for the game, failing to push a single run across. Aguirre was solid in relief, keeping the Spirit's offense at bay, but the early deficit proved too much as the run-rule ended the game after five innings.

Game 2: Nelson 8, Ottawa 6
The second game was a back-and-forth battle that the Warriors ultimately won to split the brief two-game series. Carrying some momentum over from game one, Ottawa scored twice in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Nelson responded with single runs in the second (Anais Valencia RBI single), third (Emily Quigg RBI single to tie the game), and fourth (Estevannie Rojas solo home run to right-center) to take the lead.

After the Spirit regained the advantage with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to re-take the lead 4-3, Nelson erupted for four runs in the top of the sixth to wrestle control, this time for good. With runners on the corners and no outs, Briyanei Celaya delivered a bunt single to score Valencia. Araeya Cosay followed with an RBI single to plate Rojas. Charli York then reached on a throwing error that allowed Celaya to score. After a pitching change, Grace Madril grounded out, but the play brought Cosay home for the sixth run of the inning.

Ottawa scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to pull back to within one, but Nelson added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Anais Valencia led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Estevannie Rojas, making the score 8-6, where it would stand through the seventh and final inning.

In the victory, Rojas finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, Celaya went 3-for-5 with 1 run and 1 RBI, Cosay was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI, and Valencia went 3-for-3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI.

See the Nelson Warriors' softball page for their upcoming schedule.

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