Cienega's softball team took its lumps in its first pool game at the Hamilton Invite on Wednesday - a 14-0 blanking from Iolani (HI). A couple hours later the Bobcats delivered a beating to bring a fresh outlook for Thursday's pool-game finale.

Junior Alizandra Bernal pitched a five-hitter over five innings and picked up eight runs of support early in an 8-2 triumph over Highland.

Bernal walked one and struck out three. She pitched out of one jam - the third - after securing the first two outs. Two singles and an error followed to put Highland (10-4) on the board. A sharp lineout to short prevented more damage.

By the third, Bernal's teammates had plated eight runs. Cienega (7-7) tallied three runs in the first and five in the second. Bobcats leadoff hitter Annika McLaughlin was 4 for 4 - all singles - and scored twice. Cienega rapped out seven hits, earned six walks and a hit batter for the game. 

 Cienega's Isabel Mendoza had two RBI and Skylar Hardin, Valerie Rodriguez, Abby Boll and Ashley Higdon one apiece.

Highland's only earned run was a seventh-inning home run by Sienna Solis. The Hawks Brookelyn Ross was robbed of a homer in the seventh by left fielder Abby Boll, who snared it tangled in the collapsible outfield fence.

Highland completes pool play Thursday with games against Hamilton and Iolani. Cienega completes pool play facing Hamilton.

Standings for the tournament's four pools heading to Thursday: Pool 1 - Queen Creek 2-0, Red Mountain 1-0, Tolleson 0-1, Chandler 0-2. Pool 2 - Mesa Mtn. View 2-0, Sahuaro 0-0, Pinnacle 0-1, Casteel 0-1. Pool 3 - Basha 2-0, Centennial 1-1, Salpointe 0-0, Shadow Ridge 0-2. Pool 4 - Hamilton 1-0, Cienega 1-1, Iolani (HI) 1-1, Highland 0-1.