Coach closes in on 300 as Lady Bulldogs win 3 straight

The Douglas Lady Bulldog softball team won three straight games last week moving their coach Abe Grijalva closer to his 300th career win.

The Lady Bulldogs beat Willcox 15-3 in Willcox last Friday. The day before Douglas knocked off Pueblo 16-3. On March 6 the Lady Bulldogs shutout Nogales 15-3.

The three wins give Douglas a 13-5 record on the season and move coach Grijalva within eight wins off the 300 career victory milestone.

Sydnea Estrella was the winning pitcher Friday improving to 8-3 on the season. Estrella went four innings, gave up two runs off four hits while fanning two and walking two.

The Lady Bulldogs scored two in the top of the first off a Mishell Quinonez two run single.

Willcox countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning making the score 2-1.

In the top of the second Victoria Mariscal and Brianna Salcido each hit two run doubles as the Lady Bulldogs rallied for six runs off seven hits taking an 8-1 lead.

A three run third by Douglas increased its lead to 11-1.

The Lady Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in the fourth increasing their lead to 14-1.

Willcox scored a run in the bottom of the fourth only to see Douglas respond with a run in the fifth as Karina Avechuco belted a solo home run giving the Lady Bulldogs a 15-2 lead.

Willcox added a run in the bottom of the fifth before the game was called on account of the 10-run mercy rule.

Nythzia Machado hit 3 for 4 this game. Andrea Lugo 2 for 4, Mariscal was 3 for 4 with two doubles, Avechuco 3 for 4 with two doubles and a home run. Quinonez was 2 for 4; Alieen Alegria was 2 for 2 and Salcido 2 for 4.

Against Pueblo Estrella was the winning pitcher giving up no runs off three hits in three innings in the circle.

Montoya threw two innings in relief giving up three runs off five hits.

Machado hit 2 for 3 with a home run; Mariscal was 2 for 2 with a home run; Estrella 2 for 2 with two doubles and Avechuco 2 for 3.

In the shutout with Nogales Estrella went four innings giving up no runs off three hits while fanning three.

Montoya threw one inning in relief and gave up no runs off no hits while fanning two.

Lugo hit 2 for 2 this game. Mariscal was also 2 for 2 with two doubles, Avechuco and Quinonez each were 2 for 3, Danae Meza 2 for 2 and Machado and Marissa Morales each were 1 for 2.

Coach Grijalva said his team is starting to jell and play better.

“We’re hitting the ball well and putting it in play,” he said. “I’m very happy with way we’re pitching and swinging the bats.”

The coach did say his team’s defense needs work as all three Willcox runs were unearned.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Benson on Tuesday and will host Desert View and Tombstone March 20 and 21 before heading to Cienega March 22.