The Pahrump Valley High School softball team continued its winning ways on Friday, March 27, closing out a two-game sweep of the Virgin Valley Bulldogs with a solid road victory in Mesquite. The win followed another hard-fought victory at home on Wednesday, March 25, giving the Lady Trojans a clean sweep of the series.
Pahrump wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first. Although Aspen Middaugh lined out to open the game, the Trojans quickly applied pressure. Riley Saldaña worked a patient walk and used her speed to steal second before advancing to third on a misplay. Jaycie Hayes reached on an error, and with runners moving aggressively, Pahrump loaded the bases after Evalenne Armendariz drew a walk.
With two outs, Jaelyn Rodriguez delivered a key ball in play that resulted in another Bulldog error, allowing both Saldaña and courtesy runner Olivia Veloz to score and give the Trojans an early 2-0 lead.
Virgin Valley answered in the bottom half, capitalizing on a pair of singles and a passed ball to tie the game. But Jaycie Hayes quickly settled in inside the circle, striking out three batters in the inning and limiting further damage.
In the second inning, Mariah Gray reached on a walk, but the Trojans were unable to push across a run. Hayes continued to deal in the circle in the bottom half, striking out two more batters and working around traffic to keep the game tied.
Pahrump regained the lead in the top of the third with timely hitting. Hayes sparked the inning with a single, and after advancing on a defensive miscue, Veloz came around to score when Sadie Freeman delivered an RBI single to left. The Trojans loaded the bases again, but a fielder’s choice ended the inning with Pahrump ahead 3-2.
The Lady Trojans’ defense stepped up in the bottom of the third, with Riley Saldaña making plays in center field and the infield turning clean outs behind Hayes, who added another strikeout to her growing total.
In the fourth, Middaugh provided a spark with a leadoff double to center field, but Virgin Valley managed to strand her at second. Hayes continued her strong outing in the circle, recording another strikeout in a scoreless bottom half.
Both teams were held in check in the fifth, but the Trojans’ defense proved critical. After a pair of errors put runners in scoring position, Hayes and the defense responded with a key fielder’s choice at the plate and a strikeout to escape the inning without allowing a run.
Pahrump broke the game open in the top of the sixth with one of its most productive innings of the day. Mariah Gray led off with a single, and after Riley Saldaña was hit by a pitch, Hayes came through in a big way. She lined a double to center field, driving in two runs to extend the lead.
Moments later, Evalenne Armendariz followed with a double of her own to right field, bringing home another run and pushing the Trojans’ advantage to 6-2.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Trojans turned again to their defense. Hayes dominated the bottom of the sixth, striking out another batter and inducing two groundouts to keep Virgin Valley off the board.
In the seventh, Pahrump added pressure but couldn’t add to its total. The Bulldogs made one final push in the bottom half, putting two runners on with two outs. But Hayes closed the door in dominant fashion, recording her final strikeout of the game to secure the victory.
Hayes was a standout on both sides of the ball, delivering a strong performance in the circle with double-digit strikeouts while also contributing offensively with a key two-run double and multiple times on base. Freeman added an important RBI hit, while Armendariz’s extra-base hit helped create separation late in the game. Middaugh’s double and Saldaña’s aggressive base running also played key roles in the win.
With the victory, the Lady Trojans not only secured the road win but completed the series sweep over Virgin Valley, continuing to build momentum as the season progresses.
*Photos taken by Alina Veloz.
