Hawks Sweep Butte Behind Atayde’s Two-Game Pitching Effort
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | X | 7 | 9 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
Game 1: Cosumnes River 7, Butte 1
Cosumnes River set the tone early in the opener, breaking through with steady pressure before erupting for a decisive five-run fifth inning to pull away.
After a scoreless start, the Hawks opened the scoring in the third inning when Nina Najafizadeh scored on a Butte error. Faith Hahn extended the lead in the fourth with an RBI triple to right field making it 2–0.
The game swung firmly in Cosumnes River's favor in the fifth. Black sparked the rally with an RBI single, followed by run-scoring hits from Charlize Fasula and Hahn. Aggressive baserunning added to the damage, as Hahn stole second and Fasula stole home on the same sequence. Alexis Hoke capped the inning with an RBI single, pushing the Hawks' lead to 7–0.
Butte managed its lone run in the sixth, but Xochitl Atayde remained in control throughout. The sophomore tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five.
Game 2: Cosumnes River 7, Butte 6 (8 innings)
The nightcap delivered plenty of drama, as the Hawks rallied multiple times before walking it off in extra innings.
Cosumnes River struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning as Imani Black stole home to give the Hawks an early 1–0 lead. Butte responded with a three-run third inning to take control.
In the fourth, Cosumnes River closed the gap on another heads-up baserunning play when Heather Briggs stole second and Charlize Fasula scored on the throw. Moments later, Atayde tied the game with an RBI single to center.
After Butte regained the lead in the fifth, Cosumnes River answered again in the sixth. Najafizadeh delivered a clutch two-run single to tie the game at 5–5, and Misasi followed with an RBI double to put the Hawks ahead.
Butte forced extras with a run in the seventh, but Cosumnes River had the final say. In the bottom of the eighth, Emily Azemar scored the winning run on Atayde's sacrifice fly to center field, sealing the walk-off victory and the sweep.
Atayde was exceptional once again, throwing all eight innings and striking out nine in a gritty complete-game effort to help improve the Hawks to 9–1 on the season.