The Española Valley High School Lady Sundevils softball team dismantled a visiting Taos club in a doubleheader April 3 in Española.
The Lady Sundevils ended the first game on the 10-run rule in six innings. Sophomore pitcher Liza Archuleta held the Lady Tigers to two runs in that game.
“She did exactly what she was supposed to do,” Española head coach Robbie Garcia said of Archuleta’s performance.
Española was also able to hammer Taos hurler Monica Trujillo early en route to a 12-2 victory.
“In that first game, we were really just able to feel out the timing of their pitcher,” Garcia said.
In the second contest, which was even shorter, Garcia gave the nod to senior pitcher Renee Roybal in the first inning. Roybal, returning from a hamstring injury sustained March 27 against Moriarty High School, held the Tigers to no hits and no runs in her one inning of work.
Española then took advantage of a string of infield errors and wild Taos pitchers in the bottom of the first to rack up several stolen bases and 17 runs. The Lady Sundevils batted through the lineup three times in that inning with every player contributing to the rally.
“We just took advantage of their pitching struggles,” Garcia said.
Eight-grade pitcher Marisa Martinez stepped in for the Lady Sundevils to close out the game. After giving up two walks in a shaky start to the second inning, Martinez settled down and allowed only one run in the top of the third.
The second game ended on the 10-run rule after that, with Española ahead 20-1.
“Our offense is coming around and our defense was starting to step up, but we just ran into issues with our pitching,” Taos head coach April Gallegos said. “I think in that second game we went through our whole team pitching. It makes a big difference when your pitching isn’t coming around.”
With the two wins, the Lady Sundevils improved to 3-0 in District 2AAAA play heading into match-ups this week with Santa Fe High School and District rival Los Alamos High School.