Casper scores five runs and earns two wins as Aztecs softball sweeps Scottsdale CC; Quiroz at 499 wins

The Pima Community College softball team (33-17, 24-16 in ACCAC) got back on track and snapped a four-game skid on Tuesday with two mercy-rule wins over Scottsdale Community College (7-39, 5-35).

Freshman Alese Casper finished the day 5 for 7 at the plate with five runs scored. She also picked up two victories on the mound (11-8). Sophomore Edith Prieto (Sunnyside HS) went 4 for 7 with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 10, Scottsdale Community College Artichokes 1 (5 innings): The Aztecs broke the game open and sealed the win with eight runs in the 5^th inning.

The Aztecs loaded the bases with no outs and four straight batters drove in runs. Sophomore Alyssa Smith (Winslow HS) hit a two-run RBI single to score freshman Maria Vanezza Caldera (Tucson HS) and sophomore Sierra Gentry to make it 7-1. Prieto hit a two-run RBI triple to seal the win.

Freshman Alizea Durazo-Corday (Pueblo HS) put the Aztecs on the board in the 2^nd inning with a solo home run. She finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Prieto was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Casper went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Smith was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Casper threw five innings and picked up the win (10-8) after she gave up one run (one earned) on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks.

SCC   0 0 0 1 0   1   1  0
PCC   0 1 1 0 8  10 12 0

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 9, Scottsdale CC Artichokes 1 (6 innings): The Aztecs took control again with four runs in the 4^th inning and three runs in the 6^th to close it out.

Casper hit a two-run RBI triple in the 4^th inning to plate Smith and Ariana Gomez (Sahuaro HS) which gave the Aztecs a 5-0 lead. Prieto capped off the inning with a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Casper. In the 6^th inning, Gomez scored on a passed ball and sophomore Megan Flores (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit a two-run RBI double to score Casper and Prieto to end the game.

Casper finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored. Prieto went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Flores was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a walk. Caldera and Smith each finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Casper pitched four shutout innings giving up three hits and two strikeouts.

SCC  0 0 0 0 1 0   1  4  1
PCC  2 0 0 4 0 3   9 11 0

Pima softball coach Armando Quiroz picked up his 498th and 499th wins as head coach of the program. 

The Aztecs hit the road on Saturday when they play an ACCAC doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The first game starts at 12:00 p.m.