Olivas and Critchlow Lead Offense as Aztecs Softball Splits Against Arizona Western
The Pima Community College softball team (32-13, 20-10 in ACCAC) played a split in its ACCAC doubleheader against No. 11 (Division I) Arizona Western College (33-7, 27-3).
The No. 16 ranked (Division II) Aztecs were led by the offensive play of sophomore Christine Olivas (Hamilton HS) and freshman Bailey Critchlow. Olivas hit two home runs on the day as she went 5 for 7 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Critchlow was 5 for 6 with five RBIs and two runs scored.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 7, Arizona Western Matadors 4
The Aztecs trailed 3-0 and rallied with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for good.
Critchlow put Pima ahead with a two-run RBI double that scored freshman Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) and sophomore Araceli Peralta (Tucson Magnet HS) to put the Aztecs up 5-3. Sophomore Olivas followed with a two-run home run to right field.
Brown put the Aztecs on the board with an RBI single to score fellow freshman Margarita Corona (Tucson Magnet HS). Sophomore Araceli Peralta (Tucson Magnet HS) reach base on an error and freshman Gabriella Gorosave came in to score. Freshman Larissa Rodriguez tied the game at 3-3 when she scored on a throw to home plate.
Olivas went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Critchlow finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Brown was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Critchlow picked up the win (15-5) as she pitched a complete-game giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with one strikeout and four walks on 134 pitches.
Game 2: Arizona Western College Matadors 17, Pima CC Aztecs 9 (5 innings)
The Aztecs took an early lead but the Matadors' offense took over in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Brown scored on a passed ball and later Olivas hit an RBI single to put Pima up 2-1 in the first inning. Gorosave hit a home run with one out in the second inning to make it 3-1. The Matadors countered with five runs in the third and four runs in the fourth inning.
Trailing 10-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Aztecs cut into Arizona Western's lead with a five-run inning. Critchlow hit a three-run RBI double to plate freshman Mary Tom (Mountain View HS), Brown and Peralta. In a déjà vu moment, Olivas followed again with a two-run homer to make it 10-8. The Matadors scored seven runs in the fifth inning.
Olivas finished the game 3 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored while Critchlow went 2 for 2 with three RBIs and a run scored. Gorosave was 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored and Brown finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore Odalis Orduno (Desert View HS) took the loss and dropped to 14-7 on the mound. She pitched four innings giving up 13 runs (12 earned) on 13 hits with one strikeout and one walk.
The Aztecs close out a busy week at South Mountain Community College on Saturday in an ACCAC doubleheader. The games will be at noon and 2:00 p.m.
Bailey Critchlow/Photo by Ben Carbajal
