Aztecs softball earns fifth straight conference sweep

The Pima Community College softball team (27-12, 21-9 in ACCAC) continued earned its fifth straight ACCAC conference sweep on Saturday against Mesa Community College (14-21, 11-19) at the West Campus.

The Aztecs, winners of 11 straight, turned to freshmen Alyse Talamante and Edith Prieto (Sunnyside HS). Pitchers Bailey Critchlow and Mandy Lorenson (Ironwood Ridge HS) continued their own winning streaks on the mound.

Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 5, Mesa CC Thunderbirds 4: The Aztecs scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Talamante hit her second walk-off in a week with a game-winning two-run RBI single to score pinch runners Larissa Rodriguez (Tucson HS) and Chandler Arviso (Cibola HS).

The Aztecs trailed 4-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Margarita Corona (Tucson HS) hit a two-run RBI double to close the gap to 4-3.

Freshman Megan Flores (Salpointe Catholic HS) put the Aztecs on the board in the first inning with an RBI double.

Corona went 1 for 4 with two RBIs while Flores finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and run scored. Critchlow was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and sophomore Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) went 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Crichlow earned her fifth straight win on the mound (13-5) as she pitched a complete game giving up four runs (three earned) on 12 hits with one strikeout.

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 5, Mesa CC Thunderbirds 2: Prieto and Rodriguez hit RBI singles as part of a four-run first inning. Prieto contributed with another RBI single in the fifth.

Prieto went 2 for 3 with two RBIs while Rodriguez was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Corona finished 2 for 2 with a run scored.

Lorenson earned her sixth straight winning decision (8-3) as she pitched a complete-game giving up two runs (two earned) on four hits with 10 strikeouts and nine walks.

The Aztecs will play at Yavapai College on Tuesday in Prescott. The games will be at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.