D-II softball: Cactus tops Arcadia on 4th-inning HR

May 13, 2016 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Emilie Guerra isn't the most dangerous hitter in Cactus' lineup, but she she inflicted lethal damage on Arcadia on Friday night to earn the Cobras a spot in next week's championship game.

Guerra's two-run homer in the fourth inning proved the difference as No. 4 Cactus earned a spot in the Division II softball final with a 3-1 victory over No. 5 Arcadia at Rose Mofford Softball Complex.

Cactus (28-8) gets a chance to avenge its only loss of the tournament on Monday against No. 2 seed Ironwood Ridge at 5:30 p.m. at ASU's Farrington Stadium. Cactus has lost twice to Ironwood Ridge this season, 6-3 at the Desert Mountain Invitational in mid-March and 5-3 eight days ago. Cactus will be appearing in its 10th title game and first since winning in 2006. The Cobras are 6-3 in championship games.

Arcadia, which suffered both its tournament losses to Cactus, finished up its season 33-6. The Titans beat Cienega, Canyon del Oro, Salpointe and Sahuaro after losing in the first game of double elimination.

Guerra's game-winning clout was her second in as many games vs. Arcadia in the last week. She belted a solo shot  that tied the first meeting between the schools a week ago in an 8-2 win. This one was a tad more important and a line shot over the left-field fence that decided a fine pitchers' duel between Cactus' Tatumn Porras and Arcadia's Emily Ingles.

Guerra, the designated player in Cactus' lineup on Friday, brought home Porras, who singled and also drove in the Cobras other run  with a first-inning  sacrifice fly that tied the game, 1-1. Guerra's hit was the fourth of only five hits Cactus collected in the game off Ingles, who went the distance striking out five and walking two.

Porras also gave up just five hits, three in the first inning when Arcadia scored its run. That run came home on Mae Forshey's double. Porras surrendered a single in the third to Kelly Flynn and and a one-out double to Macy Bellamak in the seventh. Porras secured the final two outs on a liner to first and a foul pop to the catcher by the Ttians' leadoff and No. 2 hitters.