Corona del Sol hadn't been back in the top 10 of  D-I softball in several years yet longtime coach Jennifer Ray was still cautious.

"When you get here it's a blank slate for everyone," Ray said. "(Skyilne) has played very well of late, and we lost our last game. Plus, it's prom here tonight."

Apprehension aside, Corona went out and got the job done in the first round of the Division I playoffson Saturday morning with a 4-0 triumph over Skyline at Aztec Field.

Corona, seeded No. 10 got a fine pitching performance from freshman Jessica Lynch to get past the first round that's eluded it the past couple seasons. Lynch tossed a four-hitter and struck out eight. She issued three walks but the hits and walks she allowed -- save one -- all came with two outs in an inning. That limited Skyline's ability to score.

On the flip side, Corona got its leadoff hitter on in three innings off Skyline junior Kaitlyn O'Day. Corona scored a run or two in each of those innings. Alyssa Alan poked an RBI single in the second for a 1-0 lead. Lynch singled to center after a leadoff double by Haley Vallejos for the Lady Aztcs second run in the fourth. A bobble of Lynch's single to center allowed Vallejos' courtesy runner to score for a 2-0 advantage.

Corona added two runs in the fifth -- plenty for Lynch to work with -- and used a throwing error on sacrifice bunt to aid in the rally. Maggie Jackson led off with a single and the throw to first to get Olivia Miller at first on a sacrifice it Miller in the back. Jackson scored and Miller moved to second. Miller scored as Lynch's second hit of the game knocked in the final run. O'Day allowed just six hits, walked two and fanned two. Only two of the runs allowed were earned.

Corona advances to the second round of the tournament on Tuesday May 5 to face No. 7 Pinnacle at 4 p.m. The Aztecs are 21-12. No. 23 Skyline, which qualified for postseason for the second year in a row, finished 17-15.