San José City College softball storms back twice, walks off Taft in opener and rallies to tie game 2

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It took two games, 14 late innings, and a pair of dramatic swings, but San José City College turned Friday's doubleheader into a showcase of grit.

The Jaguars erased a four-run deficit in their final at-bat to stun Taft 9–8 in the opener, then rallied again in the seventh inning of the second game to salvage a 4–4 tie and cap an emotional afternoon at home.

Game 1 — San José 9, Taft 8

San José trailed 8–5 entering the seventh after Taft's five-run sixth — highlighted by Jazzy Juarez's three-run homer — appeared to break the game open.

Instead, the Jaguars saved their best swings for last.

Chevelle Quistian sparked the rally, and Shelby Apostolo drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit. Moments later, Maya Medina stepped in and launched a three-run homer to left, flipping the scoreboard and sending the dugout pouring toward home plate as San José walked it off, 9–8.

Medina finished with three RBIs on the decisive blast.

Belle Walker also homered earlier in the sixth to keep the Jaguars within reach, while Angelina Castro drove in two with a double in a four-run first inning that initially gave San José control.

DJ Martinez scored twice and reached base three times, and Priyah Quinonez earned the win after working six steady innings before the late bullpen shuffle.

Taft collected 13 hits, but San José made its 10 count.

Game 2 — San José 4, Taft 4

Game 2 turned into a different kind of test.

Taft piled up 16 hits against Quinonez, yet the Jaguars limited damage and stayed within striking distance. After falling behind 4–1 in the seventh on Juarez's second homer of the day, San José again answered.

Arianna Vergara reached and scored, and Martinez delivered the biggest swing of the finale, crushing a three-run homer to tie the game at 4–4 and ignite another comeback celebration.

The Jaguars couldn't push across the winner, but the rally secured the split and preserved momentum.

Vergara doubled and drove in a run earlier, while Jaelynn Corona scored twice.

By the numbers

• Martinez: 2 home runs, 4 RBIs across the doubleheader

• Medina: walk-off 3-run HR in Game 1

• Taft: 29 total hits on the day

• San José: 7 runs scored in the seven innings.

The takeaway

Down to their final outs twice, the Jaguars refused to fold.

For a young team building early-season identity, Friday looked less like January softball and more like postseason resolve.