The Scottsdale Community College Artichokes kicked off their weekend series as they hosted their first divisional matchup against the Glendale Community College Gauchos.

The Artichokes started the season 5-0, but since have fallen to 5-5.

The Gauchos are on an impressive start to the season at 6-1.

On the mound for SCC was right-handed-pitcher Andrew Filimoehala, in his last appearance, he threw 4.1 innings, 3 H, 4ER, 3 BB, 6 strikeouts.

For GCC, right-handed-pitcher Parker Staheli, 3.38 ERA and 7 strikeouts in 8 IP so far this season.

In the first inning, Filimoehala gave up a hit as GCC’s catcher, Hayden Smith, singled over the third baseman, but Filimoehala stranded Smith on first base with back-to-back strikeouts.

The bottom of the first did not go smoothly for the Gauchos. Staheli walked the first batter he faced, and the next batter reached base after a groundball got past the second baseman.

The Artichokes scored first with a double off the left field wall by Luke Calendo; Carson Feddema slid into home plate to beat the relay throw.

Despite giving up three hits in the inning, Staheli only allowed one run to score.

The top of the second inning was a struggle for Filimoehala.

After a strong first inning, Filimoehala walked the first two batters with no outs.

GCC capitalized off a costly error as SCC’s catcher overthrew the shortstop, trying to catch the GCC’s baserunners stealing.

SCC’s pitching coach, Jack Slominski, came out for a mound visit with Filimoehala.

“The second inning kind of got away from Fili,” Slominski told Northeast Valley News, “Worked three walks—we talked about beating ourselves, and we think we beat ourselves that inning. But he did a good job minimizing it, gave up a one.”

It was a 1-1 contest entering the bottom of the second, and Staheli kept it that way by retiring the side.

Meanwhile, Filimoehala recovered from a shaky second inning with a strikeout and two groundouts for a clean top of the third inning.

In the bottom of the third, Braiden Reynolds smashed a two-run homer to left field with two outs—an Artichoke 3-1 lead.

Filimoehala continued to impress as he retired the side again in the top of the fourth.

The Artichokes threatened to score again in the bottom of the fourth with men on the corners and only one out.

SCC’s Dylan Frank delivered with a double to left field, allowing one more run to score.

Staheli’s run was cut short after pitching 3.2 innings.

The right-hander Jordan Kirby entered in relief and stranded two runners on second and third to close the fourth inning.

As Filimoehala continued his strong outing with another strikeout, right fielder Carson Feddema made a jaw-dropping catch in foul territory for the final out of the fifth inning.

“We had two strikes on a guy, obviously you’re expecting something to go in the air. I didn’t expect to get there, I saw it up and I just started running.” Feddema told Northeast Valley News. “We were happy about that, happy to get out the inning and come hit.”

Although Kirby kept the Artichoke lead to just three, the offensive struggles for the Gauchos loomed with just two hits.

Filimoehala ended his run after six innings, but did not go out quietly retiring his last 12 of 13 batters.

“After the second (inning), I was just able to get ahead with the cutter—never fell back in the count,” Filimoehala said.

SCC’s dominant pitching did not stop after Filimoehala exited when Dalton Hanson threw three scoreless innings—striking out seven of the nine batters he faced in relief.

Slominski said with regard to the pitching performance, “It was A plus, your blueprint coming into a game, you want to make them beat you…We were just nails, Dalton came in and just filled up the strike zone with all four of his pitches.”

On the other side of the plate for SCC, the team scored five runs—and racked up 15 hits.

SCC grabs a 5-1 win in this two-game series against GCC.

The Artichokes head to Glendale for the second matchup Saturday.