Aztecs softball plays offensive marathon but gets swept by Phoenix College
The Pima Community College softball team (34-19, 28-16 in ACCAC) nearly rallied from a 12-run deficit on Tuesday against No. 3 ranked Phoenix College (Division II).
The Aztecs (Division I) dropped a pair to the Bears on Tuesday at the West Campus field.
Freshmen Megan Flores (Salpointe Catholic HS) and Chandler Arviso (Cibola HS) along with sophomore Margarita Corona (Tucson HS) had three RBI games for the Aztecs. Freshman MaryAlys Julian (Gila Ridge HS) was 4 for 6 on the day with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Game 1: (3) Phoenix College Bears 22, Pima CC Aztecs 13: The Bears hit five home runs in the game but the Aztecs rallied from a 12-0 deficit to make things interesting. The Bears proved to be too strong in the late innings.
The Aztecs scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth to make it 12-10. The Bears scored one in the sixth and nine runs in the seventh inning to close it out. The Aztecs tacked on three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The Aztecs had seven straight hits in the fourth inning. Sophomore Gabriella Gorosave and Flores each had a two-run RBI single while Julian, Bailey Critchlow and Margarita Corona (Tucson HS) contributed with RBI singles in the inning. In the fifth, Corona came through with a two-run RBI double and sophomore Courtney Brown (Flowing Wells HS) hit an RBI single. Sophomore Mari Ruiz (Cholla HS), Brown and Critchlow each scored runs in the seventh inning.
Flores finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs while Corona went 3 for 5 with three RBI and two doubles. Brown and Critchlow each finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Julian was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored while Gorosave went 1 for 1 with two RBIs and a double.
Critchlow started and pitched three innings giving up seven runs (seven earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts. She took the loss and dropped to 15-8 on the season.
Game 2: (3) Phoenix College Bears 7, Pima CC Aztecs 5: The rally fell short again for the Aztecs. After cutting the Bears' lead to one run, Phoenix College scored three runs in the fifth inning and it wasn't enough for the Aztecs to overcome.
Down 4-0, the Aztecs got on the board in the third inning when Crtichlow hit an RBI single to score Brown, who had triple in the previous at-bat. In the fourth inning, Arviso cut Phoenix College's lead to 4-3 after she hit a two-run RBI double which scored sophomore Amy Pacheco (Sahuaro HS) and Julian. Arviso was caught stealing third to end the threat.
Julian and Arviso hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth inning.
Arviso finished 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two doubles while Julian was 2 for 2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Pacheco went 2 for 3 with a run scored and Brown was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Freshman Mandy Lorenson (Ironwood Ridge HS) took the loss (12-6) as she pitched a complete-game giving up seven runs (seven earned) on seven hits with eight strikeouts and seven walks.
The Aztecs are off until next Tuesday, Apr. 25 when they play their final ACCAC conference doubleheader on the road at Paradise Valley Community College. The games will be at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
