On Tuesday, the Goddard Lady Rockets softball team hosted the Roswell Lady Coyotes for the first crosstown rivalry game between both teams.

The Lady Rockets entered this game with a 0-2 record after losing both games in a doubleheader against Hobbs last Thursday. The Lady Coyotes entered this game with a 0-4 record after participating in the Cleveland Classic in Rio Rancho last weekend where they lost all four games they played in. Goddard honored senior Quiana Gonzales (7) before this game, as she committed to serve in the U.S. Navy after high school.

The first two innings saw both teams score five runs: the Lady Rockets scored three in the first and two in the second, while the Lady Coyotes scored two in the first and three in the second. Highlights include a two-run batted in (RBI) double by Goddard player Marisa Crawford (30) in the first, and a pop fly by Roswell player Bella Ornelas (5) was dropped in the outfield, which caused two runs to score in the second.

Two and a half innings passed before more runs were scored, as the Lady Rockets scored four runs and took a 9-5 lead in the fourth inning, which was highlighted by a two RBI single by Quiana Gonzales (7).

This flipped the game in Goddard’s favor, as in the fifth, they again held Roswell to no runs before adding five runs to make the score 14-5 entering the sixth inning. Two players, Crawford (30) and Roxanna Serrano (10), added two runs each after both hit doubles in the inning.

In the sixth, the Lady Rockets had a chance to end the game early due to the mercy rule if they held the Lady Coyotes to no runs and scored a run themselves. The rule is that if the home team is up by more than 10 points after the top of the fifth inning, the game ends.

Goddard did exactly that, as after holding Roswell to no runs in the top of the sixth, Serrano (10) hit a one-run RBI triple, scoring teammate Gonzalez (7), to end the game, marking them the winner with a 15-5 tally. The Lady Rockets’ record moves to 1-2, while the Lady Coyotes fall to 0-5.

Juliet Gallegos (1) pitched all six innings for Goddard and calmed down after the first two innings, in which she gave up five runs, to pitch four straight innings with no runs allowed. Serrano (10) had the most hits on the team, going 5-for-5, and had the lone triple of the game.

Avrielle Sanchez (14) started the game on the mound for Roswell, lasting 4.1 innings, allowing 12 runs and striking out five batters. Daniela Hernandez (8) finished the game on the mound. Orenelas (5) led the team in hits with two.

Both the Lady Rockets and Lady Coyotes will participate in the Southern New Mexico Tournament in Las Cruces starting Friday for their next group of games. Roswell faces Centennial at 1 p.m. and Goddard takes on Mayfield at 3 p.m.

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