Aztecs softball split against Arizona Western, secure No. 2 seed at Region Tournament

The Pima Community College softball team (44-12, 37-11 in ACCAC) closed out the regular season on Saturday as the Aztecs earned a split against Arizona Western College at the West Campus.

The Aztecs will be the No. 2 seed in the Region I, Division II Tournament. All the games will be played at No. 1 seed Phoenix College next Friday and Saturday. Times are to be determined.

Kalynn Martinez (Sunnyside HS) had a great day at the plate going 6 for 8 while Taylor Fabing went 2 for 4 with four walks.

Game 1: Arizona Western College Matadors 6, (3) Pima CC Aztecs 1

The Aztecs couldn't get into a rhythm offensively as they lost the first game 6-1. Fabing doubled to begin the second inning and later scored on a double-play ball hit by Sierra Cuestas (Marana HS) to put Pima up 1-0. Arizona Western went on to score three runs in each the 4^th and 5^th innings. Fabing was 1 for 1 with a run scored and two walks. Martinez went 1 for 3 with two doubles.

Alexis Alfonso (Canyon del Oro HS) took the loss (26-5) after she pitched four innings giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits with four walks. Alexis Ayala threw the final two innings giving up one hit with one strikeout.

Game 2: (3) Pima CC Aztecs 15, Arizona Western College Matadors 7 (6 innings)

The Aztecs capitalized on a big rally as they defeated Arizona Western in the second game 15-7 in six innings. Down 7-4 after Arizona Western scored six runs in the 4^th inning, the Aztecs came right back with one run in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the lead. In the fifth inning, Alyssa Montoya plated pinch runner Morgan Engelhardt on a bunt single RBI. Keona Hunter (Santa Rita HS) and Jackie Hernandez (Desert Ridge HS) hit back-to-back RBI singles to put Pima up 8-7. That set up Fabing's grand slam to make it 12-7. The Aztecs scored seven runs in the 5^th inning and three runs in the 6^th to close it out.

Fabing was 1 for 3 with four RBIs, two runs scored and two walks while Martinez went 5 for 5 with four runs scored and an RBI. Hunter finished 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Ariana Murrieta (Catalina Foothills HS) hit a two-run RBI single in the 3^rd inning and finished 2 for 4. Hernandez was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Montoya went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Ayala picked up the win (5-1) after she pitched two and one-third innings giving up three runs (three earned) on three hits with one strikeout and one walk.

The Aztecs recognized their sophomores after the game (left to right) Back Row: Jackie Hernandez, Ariana Murrieta, Brianna Quiroz, Taylor Fabing, Alexis Alfonso, Keona Hunter Front Row: Paige Castro, Alyssa Montoya