Ruiz and Silvain's production help Aztecs softball sweep Chandler-Gilbert CC
The Pima Community College softball team (34-17, 28-14 in ACCAC) played a pair of close games on Saturday against Chandler-Gilbert Community College (4-36, 4-36) as it returned for an ACCAC conference doubleheader at the West Campus. The Aztecsplayed five straight doubleheaders on the road.
Sophomore Mari Ruiz (Cholla HS) came through with a big hit in the first game while the pitching efforts of sophomores Bailey Critchlow and Luisa Silvain (Cholla HS) stymied the Coyotes' offense. Sophomores Margarita Corona (Tucson HS) and Gabriela Trejo (Desert View HS) went yard and fellow sophomore Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) had four stolen bases on the day.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 4, Chandler-Gilbert CC Coyotes 0: Ruiz hit a bases-clearing RBI triple to plate sophomores Gabriella Gorosave, Trejo and freshman Alyse Talamanate to break a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. Gorosave and Trejo hit back-to-back singles to lead-off the inning. Edith Prieto (Sunnyside HS) hit a sacrifice and Talamanate walked to load the bases.
Brown and Critchlow had back-to-back walks to load the bases again with one out. Corona hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to deep center field to score Ruiz.
The Aztecs struggled to manufacture hits in the first three innings. Brown had Pima's first hit on a bunt single to lead-off the fourth. They finished the game with four hits.
Ruiz finished 1 for 2 with three RBIs and a run scored. Gorosave and Trejo each went 1 for 3 with a run scored. Brown was 1 for 2 with a walk and two stolen bases.
Critchlow threw a shutout and picked up the win (15-7) as she pitched a complete-game giving up four hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 7, Chandler-Gilbert CC Coyotes 5: The Aztecs rallied with three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Brown hit an RBI double with one out to score Ruiz, who drew a lead-off walk. Silvain followed with a sacrifice-fly RBI as sophomore Mary Tom (Mountain View HS) tagged from third base to give the Aztecs a 6-5 lead. Brown added an insurance run as she scored on an error.
The Aztecs fell behind 3-0 after the top half of the first inning but responded in the bottom half. Critchlow drew a walk with one out and Corona followed by blasting a two-run homer to right field. Freshman Alyssa Smith (Winslow HS) followed three batters later with an RBI double to score Gorosave.
Trejo hit a solo homer in fourth inning to cut Chandler-Gilbert's lead to 5-4.
Brown was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two stolen bases while Corona finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Trejo went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored and Smith went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Tom was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
In addition to driving in the eventual winning run, Silvain stepped up and picked up the win (3-4) in a relief appearance. She threw a solid five and two-third innings giving up four hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Tuesday as they host Phoenix College at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
