Lorenson and Delgado power Aztecs softball to sweep South Mountain; Grab No. 4 seed at Region tourney

The Pima Community College softball team (38-19, 32-16 in ACCAC) closed out the regular season on Saturday at the West Campus field as the Aztecs earned a sweep over South Mountain Community College (23-35, 18-30).

Freshman Mandy Lorenson (Ironwood Ridge HS) threw her sixth no-hitter of the season while sophomore Alexa Delgado (Sahuarita HS) made the most of her opportunity at the plate with a towering home run. Sophomore Mari Ruiz (Cholla HS) also had a great day on offense as she went 4 for 5 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) was 3 for 8 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 8, South Mountain Community College Cougars 0 (5 innings): Lorenson tossed her sixth no-hitter in her last 13 starts as she improved to 14-6 on the mound. She had six strikeouts and one walk.

Delgado hit a grand slam to center field in the third inning to give Pima a commanding lead. Brown hit a two-run RBI triple in the second inning while Ruiz drove in a run to put the Aztecs on the board.

Delgado was 1 for 2 with four RBIs and a run scored while Ruiz went 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Gabriella Gorosave finished 1 for 1 with two runs scored and a walk.

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 12, South Mountain Community College Cougars 8: Ruiz reached base in all four appearances as she hit RBI singles in the first and second innings and drove in two more runs with a single in the third. She drew a walk in the fifth.

The Aztecs scored seven runs in the second inning as Gorosave and Brown each hit a two-run RBI single.

Ruiz finished 3 for 3 with four RBIs and a run scored. Sophomore Gabriela Trejo (Desert View HS) also reached base in all of her appearances as she finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored, a double and a walk. Sophomore Amy Pacheco (Sahuaro HS) went 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the first inning. Brown and sophomore Bailey Critchlow each scored two runs.

Critchlow picked up the win as she improved to 17-8 overall. She threw four innings in relief giving up five runs (five earned) on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk. Sophomore Luisa Silvain (Cholla HS) started the game and pitched three innings giving up three runs (three earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

The Aztecs will be the No. 4 seed at the Region I, Division I Tournament next Friday and Saturday, May 5-6. All games will be played at Bill Vallely Field in Prescott. The Aztecs will begin the double elimination tournament against No. 1 seed Yavapai College on Friday at 11:00 a.m.