No. 10 Tucson used two home runs by Jiselle Nuñez and the fortitude of ace Jorgina Gant in the circle to upset No. 2 Chandler Basha 7-6 on Saturday at Mesa’s Quail Run Park to advance to the the 6A elimination-bracket quarterfinal round.
The Badgers (26-7) will play No. 7 Phoenix Pinnacle (25-5) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Quail Run Park.
The winner plays No. 3 Queen Creek (25-4) in a semifinal game Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Quail Run Park.
Tucson prevailed Saturday against Basha after holding on to a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
Basha cut the lead to 5-4 after the sixth inning.
Nuñez belted her second two-run home run of the game in the seventh inning to increase the lead to 7-4.
Basha’s Cailin Quinney hit a two-run home run with no outs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 7-6.
Gant, who worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, retired the last three batters in the seventh to close the game.
Gant (11-2) struck out seven and walked three in seven innings.
Nuñez finished 2 for 4 with two home runs, two runs and four RBIs.
Ariana Camen, Alyssa Torres and Alma Teilon also each had two hits. Torres and Teilon also had one RBI apiece.
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