Aztecs Softball Drops First Game, Responds in Second at Region I Tournament
The Pima Community College softball team (46-18-1) recovered to stay alive in the Region I, Division II Tournament on Friday at Phoenix College after the Aztecs dropped the first game of the day.
Sophomore Odalis Orduno (Desert View HS) and freshman Bailey Critchlow produced two quality starts and the offense pick it up in the second game.
(2) Pima CC Aztecs 9, (4) South Mountain CC Cougars 1 (5 innings) (Elimination game)
Critchlow ended the game with a solo home run in the fifth inning to put the mercy-rule in effect. The Aztecs came out firing on all cylinders with five runs in the first inning. They took an 8-0 lead after the third.
Sophomore Araceli Peralta (Tucson Magnet HS) put the Aztecs on the board when she scored on a fielder's choice. Freshman Margarita Corona (Tucson Magnet HS) hit an RBI single and later scored a run to make it 4-0. Sophomore Kalynn Martinez (Sunnyside HS) hit an infield single and later scored on an error.
In the second inning, Corona hit a towering two-run homer to left-center field to make it 7-0. Freshman Amy Pacheco (Sahuaro HS) capped off the inning with an RBI single to plate freshman Gabriela Trejo (Desert View HS).
Corona finished the game 2 for 2 with three RBIs and a walk while Pacheco went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a double. Critchlow was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Peralta finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Martinez was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Critchlow picked up the win (19-8) as she pitched five innings giving up one run (none earned) on three hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Game 1: (3) Glendale CC Gauchos 3, (2) Pima CC Aztecs 2
The Aztecs took the lead but the Gauchos came back in the seventh inning to take the lead for good.
Freshman Gabriella Gorosave scored on an error in the third inning. Martinez hit an RBI single to drive in pinch runner Mary Tom (Mountain View HS) in the sixth giving the Aztecs a 2-0 advantage. Glendale capitalize on an error and scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh. The Aztecs left two runners on base in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
The Aztecs managed just four hits for the game. Gorosave was 1 for 3 with a run scored while Peralta finished 1 for 4 with a stolen base. Corona went 1 for 4 with a walk.
Orduno threw six scoreless innings but took the loss (22-8). She pitched seven innings giving up three runs (none earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Aztecs must win three games tomorrow to claim the Region I, Division II championship. It begins for them tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in an elimination game against the loser of the Phoenix College/Glendale CC game at 9:00 a.m.
Bailey Critchlow/Photo by Ben Carbajal
