By Hailey Hole

Corona del Sol junior Jessica Lynch recorded her first perfect game ever while striking out 10 batters Wednesday.

“If you’re doing good, your team is doing good behind you,” Lynch said.

Lynch started the top of the first inning with three strikeouts.

She returned for the second, third and fourth innings, striking the first batter out in each inning.

“It feels great starting the game with a strikeout. It’s always good to start a game out feeling confident,” Lynch said.

In the bottom of the first inning, Caleigh Tilden-Long and Nicole Neumann hit singles.

When Lynch stepped up to the plate, she hit the ball over the fence for a three-run home run.

“We’re strong at hitting because we hit at every practice no matter what,” coach Jennifer Ray said.

In the top of the second inning, the score was 3-0.

With Trevor Browne up to bat, Yvianna Bustamante and Valeria Morales Orona made contact but flied out. The back-to-back fly outs were caught by Lynch and shortstop Bailey Sejnoha.

With two outs Lynch threw another strikeout against Anissa Hernandez.

Sejnoha was walked by Trevor G. Browne pitcher Tatum Lucero and then stole second base. When Sierra Fuchs came up, she hit a single, bringing home Sejnoha to make the score 4-0.

Then, while Trevor Browne hesitated to get the ball back to the mound, Fuchs stole second base.

“What goes on in my head is that I pretend someone’s chasing after me,” Fuchs said.

According to Ray, she uses stealing to her advantage.

“Make them make a play on you and why not steal,” Ray said.

Olivia Miller hit a single to right center field advancing Fuchs to third. Tilden-Long hit the ball to right field and was thrown out at second however, this hit allowed Fuchs and Miller to touch home plate. At the end of the second inning the score was 6-0.

Trevor G. Browne made some adjustments and had Alexis Rubio attempt a bunt but ended in a strikeout.

In the bottom of the third, Corona Del Sol really showed its hitting ability. Lynch started the inning off by hitting a double to right center. Allyssia Sanchez then hit a powerful line drive past the third baseman, placing her at second base and advancing Lynch to home.

When Lynch was up to bat again, Neumann was on second and Tilden-Long was on third. Lynch hit a two-run double but was out at third.

At the end of the third inning it was 13-0.

In the top of the fourth, Hernandez tried bunting but was out at first. Lynch then threw two more strikeouts.

Lynch finished the game by striking out Nallely Serrato.

“Finish the game how you started,” Lynch said.

The 10-run mercy rule came into effect as the game ended with a 15-0 score.

Trevor G. Browne was eliminated from the playoffs.

“My plan for the rest of the season is to take it one day at a time. I told them there’s lots of steps for the state tournament and this was step one. So tomorrow, were working toward step two, which is our game on Saturday,” Ray said.

Hole is a sports journalism student at Arizona State.