Merced College softball sweep locks up playoff berth

The Merced College softball team is going back to the playoffs.

With an impressive résumé, the She-Devils likely had already secured a postseason bid for the first time since 2009, but Suzanne McGhee’s squad left nothing to chance on the final day of the regular season Thursday.

Marta Mitchell had three hits and four RBIs in an 8-3 victory over Sequoias to open a doubleheader at She-Devils Diamond. Brianna Lopez shook off two unearned runs and matched a career high with eight strikeouts as MC won the nightcap 3-2.

The two-game sweep coupled with Fresno City’s sweep of Reedley on Thursday put the She-Devils (26-11, 14-4 Central Valley Conference) in second place, earning an automatic playoff berth.

The one-two punch of Shelbee Ward and Arisa Nishibe set the tone at the top of the Merced order. The She-Devil table setters combined for six hits, six runs and drove in four. Nishibe hit the game-winning single in the bottom of the sixth inning as Merced rallied to win Game 2.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Merced College softball sweep locks up playoff berth."