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OXFORD, Alabama - History made. For the first time in at least three decades, and the first time in the 2000s era, Arizona Western College has earned back-to-back wins at the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series. Arizona Western advanced in the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series elimination round with a high-stakes 4-2 victory over Volunteer State Community College (51-16) on Wednesday morning at the Champion Field at Choccolocco Park. The win was a milestone for the program, marking Coach Prickett's 800th career victory and the Matadors' first time winning two games at the World Series since before the year 2000.

LADY MATADORS STRIKE EARLY

Analy Trejo delivered the game's pivotal hit, a two-out, two-run single in the second inning that stretched Arizona Western's lead to 3-0. In the circle, Jessica Smith went the distance, allowing one earned run over seven innings while stranding 10 Volunteer State runners.

The Matadors struck first as Rauni Gallegos led off with a walk, advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Léa Fréchette, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Alana McDonnell.

"It just feels Amazing," McDonnell, a local product out of Cibola High School said. "You need to come up clutch at the time when you have runners on, something we really didn't do the first day, we had to push. We really thrive when we get ahead first. It feels great, we haven't done this in years."

In the second, the Matadors increased their lead with back-to-back bunt singles from Gabby Weisser and Corinna Talbot to load the bases ahead of Trejo's clutch two out, two--RBI knock.

"I really didn't feel any pressure at all. Just see the ball and hit the ball, have fun and that's," Trejo said. "I kind of relish getting a chance in those moments because that's what this is all about. Coach Prickett keeps telling us to have fun and that's what I try to always do when I'm on the field. I want to keep playing, we never know when our last day will be, so we have to enjoy it."

Volunteer State got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the third, but Smith worked out of further trouble.

Arizona Western College added a crucial insurance run in the sixth when Aaliyah Soderlund doubled to start the inning and scored on an RBI double by Alissa Piñon, extending the lead to 4-1. Volunteer State mounted a final push in the seventh, plating an unearned run and putting the tying run on base, but Smith induced a pop-up and groundout to close out the historic win and Coach Joel Prickett's 800th all-time as a head coach.

"It's great, I feel we just needed a game to get into the groove of things," Smith said. "I think we're on the good side of it now and if we keep working, hopefully we can keep winning."

Smith is now 2-1 in the NJCAA DI Softball World Series and has pitched every single inning for the Lady Matadors. 

Aaliyah Soderlund and Alissa Piñon each collected two hits and a double, with Soderlund scoring a run. Rauni Gallegos reached base twice and scored, while Gabby Weisser and Corinna Talbot both added a hit and a run scored.

UP NEXT

Arizona Western is scheduled to return to the field tonight at 8:15 p.m. CT and will face the winner of Paris Junior College and Northwest Florida State College in the next round of the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series elimination bracket. The game is currently in a rain delay so be sure to check our social media posts for updates throughout the day. The game will be televised on ESPN +