Ayala's 3-run home run boosts softball in sweep
The Pima Community College softball team (37-9, 32-8 in ACCAC) continue to inch closer to the No. 1 seed in the ACCAC Division II standings as the Aztecs gained another conference sweep on Saturday at Paradise Valley Community College.
The No. 4 ranked Aztecs have won 10 straight and 20 of their last 23 games. They trail Phoenix College by one game for the No. 1 spot.
Game 1: (4) Pima CC Aztecs 4, Paradise Valley CC Pumas 2
The Aztecs fell behind early and rallied in the sixth inning to win the first game 4-2. Down 2-0 and with two outs in the 6th, Alexis Alfonso (Canyon del Oro HS) hit an RBI single to cut the lead in half. Alexis Ayala (Sunnyside HS) followed with a three-run home run to give the Aztecs the lead for good. Ayala finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Alfonso also went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double. Christine Olivas (Hamilton HS) was 1 for 3 with a double.
Alfonso won her eighth straight start and improved to 22-3 on the season. She gave up two runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2: (4) Pima CC Aztecs 3, Paradise Valley CC Pumas 1
The Aztecs fell behind but rallied once again to win the second game 3-1. Down 1-0 in the fourth inning, Ayala hit a single and later scored on an error to tie the game. In the fifth inning, Jackie Hernandez (Desert Ridge HS) hit a double and scored on Taylor Fabing's RBI double. Sierra Cuestas (Marana HS) followed with an RBI double of her own to drive in Fabing. Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a run scored, two stolen bases and a triple. Cuestas went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double while Fabing finished 1 for 4 with an RBI and a double.
Odalis Orduno (Desert View HS) picked up the win (11-4) after she pitched four innings giving up one run (one earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Alfonso came in and picked up the save as she pitched the final three innings with no hits, two strikeouts and one walk.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Tuesday as they host El Paso Community College in a non-conference doubleheader. The games will be at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
