Peralta Has Game-Winning Hit as Aztecs Softball Split with Eastern Arizona
The No. 19 ranked Pima Community College softball team (40-16, 28-13 in ACCAC) earned a come-from-behind victory in the first game but were shutout in the second game against No. 14 ranked Eastern Arizona College (39-13, 36-8) on Tuesday at the West Campus.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 6, Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters 5:
Sophomore Araceli Peralta (Tucson Magnet HS) hit the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to score pinch runner Larissa Rodriguez (Tucson Magnet HS) to give the Aztecs the win.
Down 5-3 in the inning, the Aztecs rallied off five consecutive singles with two outs. Freshman Amy Pacheco (Sahuaro HS) hit an RBI single to score sophomore Kalynn Martinez (Sunnyside HS). Freshman Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) followed with an RBI single to score pinch runner Mary Tom (Mountain View HS) to tie the game at 5-5.
In the first inning, freshman Bailey Critchlow put the Aztecs on the board with an RBI single. Down 5-1 in the fifth inning, the Aztecs cut into Eastern Arizona's lead. Martinez hit an RBI single and sophomore Morgan Engelhardt scored on a fielder's choice to make it 5-3.
Peralta finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Martinez went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored while Pacheco and freshman Gabriella Gorosave each were 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Odalis Orduno (Desert View HS) pitched a complete-game and picked up the win (18-7). She pitched seven innings giving up five runs (none earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2: Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters 6, Pima CC Aztecs 0
The Aztecs' bats went quiet as they managed two hits for the game. In the second inning, sophomore Christine Olivas (Hamilton HS) drew a lead-off walk and freshman Margarita Corona (Tucson Magnet HS) hit a single with one out but they were stranded to end the inning. In the fifth inning, Martinez reached base on an error and freshman Gabriela Trejo (Desert View HS) hit a single but the next three batters got out.
The Gila Monsters scored two runs in the first inning, two in the fourth and two in the sixth inning.
Corona was 1 for 3 while Trejo finished 1 for 3 for the game.
Critchlow took the loss (17-8) as she pitched four innings giving up four runs (four earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Luisa Silvain (Cholla HS) pitched the final three innings giving up two runs (two earned) on four hits with two walks.
The Aztecs will play at Arizona western College on Saturday in an ACCAC conference doubleheader. The games will be at noon and 2:00 p.m.
Araceli Peralta/Photo by Ben Carbajal
