Corona and Olivas Lead Offense as Aztecs Softball Sweeps Mesa CC
The Pima Community College softball team (30-11, 18-8 in ACCAC) earned a sweep against Mesa Community College (14-21, 11-19) on Saturday at the West Campus but the No. 13 ranked Aztecs needed all 28 runs they scored.
Freshman Margarita Corona (Tucson Magnet HS) finished the day 4 for 6 with two home runs; one was a grand slam. She had six RBIs and four runs scored. Sophomore Christine Olivas (Hamilton HS) also went 4 for 6 with five RBIs.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 11, Mesa CC Thunderbirds 5
After the Thunderbirds scored four runs in the top of the first inning, the Aztecs came back and capped off the game with three runs in each the fifth and sixth innings. Up 5-4 in the fifth inning, freshman Gabriela Trejo (Desert View HS) led off the inning with a single and Corona hit a two-run home run to make it 7-4. Later in the inning, sophomore Araceli Peralta (Tucson Magnet HS) hit an RBI single. In the sixth inning, sophomore Kalynn Martinez (Sunnyside HS) and freshman Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) contributed with RBI singles and freshman Larissa Rodriguez (Tucson Magnet HS) drew a bases load walk.
Corona finished the game 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Trejo went 4 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Olivas was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Brown finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Sophomore Odalis Orduno (Desert View HS) settled in after the first inning to pick up the win (13-5). She pitched a complete game giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 17, Mesa CC Thunderbirds 11
The Aztecs found themselves in a shoot-out in the second game. After surrendering seven runs in the second inning and trailing 7-4, the Aztecs loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second inning. Olivas drew a walk with one out and Trejo struck out in the next at-bat. Corona stepped up and hit a grand slam to put Pima back up 9-7.
Up 13-11, the Aztecs helped seal the win with four runs in the sixth inning. Brown hit an RBI single with the bases loaded and no outs. Later, freshman Bailey Critchlow hit a two-run RBI double to score Rodriguez and Brown.
Corona went 2 for 3 with four RBIs while Critchlow finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Olivas was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Critchlow and Olivas hit back-to-back homers in
Pima's four-run first inning. Martinez went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. She hit a two-run RBI double in the first inning to make it 4-0. Peralta was 3 for 4 with three runs and Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with two runs.
Crichlow picked up the win (14-5) pitching in relief. She went five and two-third innings giving up four runs (four earned) on eight hits with one walk. She set the final six Thunderbird batters down in order.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Tuesday when they host an ACCAC doubleheader against Glendale Community College. The games are at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Christine Olivas/Photo by Ben Carbajal
