Aztecs softball rally falls short vs. Central Arizona

The Pima Community College softball team (16-11, 10-8 in ACCAC) rallied in the late innings but it wasn't enough on Thursday in an ACCAC conference make-up game against Central Arizona College (18-5, 15-3).

The Aztecs lost 7-5 as they scored two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh inning after trailing 7-2.

Sophomore Amy Pacheco (Sahuaro HS) led off the sixth inning with a double which was followed by sophomore Gabriela Trejo's (Desert View HS) two-run home run to cut it to 7-4. The Aztecs left a runner on base to end the inning. In the seventh inning, sophomore Margarita Corona (Tucson HS) hit a double with one out. Sophomore Larissa Rodriguez came in as a pinch runner and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Aztecs got on the board and took an early lead in the first inning when sophomore Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) scored on Corona's (Tucson HS) sacrifice-fly RBI. Brown doubled to begin the inning.

The Vaqueras scored two runs in the second inning but the Aztecs came back to tie at 2-2 when Trejo scored on a passed ball. The Vaqueras went on to score two runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth.

Trejo finished the game 1 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Brown went 2 for 4 with a run scored and Corona was 1 for 4 with an RBI and a double.

Sophomore Bailey Critchlow took the loss (8-5) as she pitched three innings giving up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts. Freshman Mandy Lorenson (Ironwood Ridge HS) pitched two innings in relief giving up one run (one earned) on no hits with two strikeouts and five walks. Sophomore Luisa Silvain (Cholla HS) also threw two innings with three strikeouts.

The Aztecs beat the Vaqueras 6-5 in eight innings on Feb. 18.

The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Saturday when they host an ACCAC conference doubleheader against Paradise Valley Community College. The games will be at noon and 2:00 p.m.