Aztecs softball staves off elimination by upsetting No. 2 seed Yavapai College at Region I tourney

The Pima Community College softball team (30-27) is still alive in the NJCAA Region I, Division I Tournament after Friday's day of competition.

• The No. 4 seeded Aztecs dropped their first game of the tournament to No. 1 Arizona Western College but bounced back in the elimination game against No. 2 seeded Yavapai College.
• (Elimination Game): (4) Pima CC Aztecs 11, (2) Yavapai College Roughriders 5: The Aztecs created a cushion with three runs in the 4^th, one in the 5^th and helped seal it with three more in the 7^th inning.
  The Aztecs did their damage with two outs in the 4^th inning. Up 4-3, sophomore Devynn Marshall (Shadow Ridge HS) hit an RBI triple to drive in sophomore Alese Casper. After a pair of walks to load the bases, freshman Kylee Leach was hit by a pitch to score Marshall. Freshman Amaya Turner-Vizcarra (Tucson HS) followed with an RBI single to score sophomore Maria Vanezza Caldera (Tucson HS). The Aztecs led 7-3 at that point.
  In the 7^th inning, Marshall hit a two-run RBI double scoring sophomores Janice Garcia (Rio Rico HS) and Ariana Gomez (Sahuaro HS) to make it 10-4. Marshall would score on Caldera's RBI double.
  Garcia hit a two-run RBI single in the 2^nd inning and finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Marshall went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs while Caldera was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, a run and a walk. Casper went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run. Turner-Vizcarra was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
  Freshman Bianca Castillo (Rio Rico HS) pitched a complete-game and picked up the win (12-12). She gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits with three strikeouts and two walks on 118 pitches. The Roughriders stranded 11 runners on base.

PCC     1 3 0 3 1 0 3   11 16 2
YAV    0 2 1 0 1 0 1    5  11 1

• (Opening Round): (1) Arizona Western College Matadors 6, (4) Pima CC Aztecs 3: The Aztecs took an early lead but the offense struggled to score runs.
  The Aztecs stranded eight runners on base for the game. They threatened in the 7^th inning hitting back-to-back singles with one out. Marshall flew out for the second out but Caldera drove in Gomez with an RBI single. Sophomore Alizea Durazo-Corday (Pueblo HS) grounded out to end the game with runners on the corners.
  The Aztecs took the lead after the top of the 1^st inning. Durazo-Corday hit an RBI single with two outs to score Marshall.
  The Aztecs cut into Arizona Western's lead in the 5^th. Gomez hit a leadoff single which was followed by Casper's triple. Gomez got caught at home plate for the first out. Casper scored on the next play when Marshall hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to cut the deficit to 3-2.
  Durazo-Corday finished the game 2 for 4 with an RBI. Marshall went 1 for 3 with an RBI while Gomez and Casper each were 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk.
  Castillo (11-12) took the loss as she pitched four innings giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

PCC    1 0 0 0 1 0 1   3 10 1
AWC  2 0 0 1 2 1 x   6 11 1

The Aztecs must win out on Saturday to claim the NJCAA Region I, Division I championship. Their first hurdle will be against Arizona Western College. The Aztecs will play at 10:00 a.m.