It was a day of tragedy and triumph when San Jacinto College Women’s Softball took on rival Alvin Community College in a doubleheader March 19 in Alvin. San Jac beat Alvin 3-1 in the first game, but the Coyotes fell short during the second matchup, this time losing 3-1.

Outfielder Jamie Henk said she felt the Coyotes could have performed better in the second meeting with Alvin.

“We are a very strong team that is just trying to find our rhythm right now,” Henk said.

In the first game, the Coyotes came out fighting, taking the lead at the top of the game. San Jac scored two runs in the first inning, but Alvin fought back scoring one run in the bottom of the same inning. San Jac clinched the win with a late run in the fifth. Niki Gonzalez served as the winning pitcher while Alexis Deleon scored twice and Gabriela Gonzalez once. Taylor Office and Shelbi Doherty got the RBIs for the Coyotes.

However, Alvin came alive in the second game taking an early lead against San Jac pitcher Coral Raabe. Katlin Kerl scored the Coyotes’ only run in the sixth inning with Alexis Deleon getting the RBI. Alvin scored two runs in the first inning, ensuring their win with a third run in the fifth.

Meanwhile, Catcher Gabriel Gonzalez said the Coyotes still have plenty of opportunities to “go in as the team I know we are.”

“There is no team in our conference who can beat us without a fight,” she said. “Blinn and PA Lamar are our last games in the first round of conference, and I know we are going to go into those games with everything we got.”

Furthermore, Gonzales said the team is practicing hard to ensure they “dominate” their opponents in upcoming matches.

“Our ultimate goal is to make it to nationals,” she said, “but for now, we are taking it game by game and prove to everyone we are the team to watch out for.”

The next game is scheduled for April 2 at 1 p.m. against Blinn College in Houston. More information is available at www.sanjacsports.com.