Courteay of Pima Athletics
Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College softball team (35-21, 26-20 in ACCAC) brought the offense but Paradise Valley Community College (29-17, 29-17) had just a little bit more on Tuesday at the West Campus Aztec Softball Field.
The Aztecs and Pumas combined to score 53 runs on the day. Sophomore Megan Flores (Salpointe Catholic HS) went 6 for 10 with five RBIs and four runs scored. Sophomore Alyssa Smith (Winslow HS) and Sierra Gentry each had four RBIs on the day.
Game 1: Paradise Valley CC Pumas 8, Pima CC Aztecs 4: The Pumas broken open a close game with four runs in the top of the 7th inning as the Aztecs rally fell short in the bottom half of the inning.
Smith had an RBI hit in the 3rd inning to score freshman Mya Cabral (Pueblo HS) to cut it to a 3-2 deficit. She cut into Paradise Valley’s lead again in the 6th with an RBI double to score pinch runner Mackenzie Judge (Ironwood Ridge HS). The score was 4-3 at that point.
Smith went 2 for 4 with two RBIs while Flores also went 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the 1st inning and a run scored. Gentry had a sacrifice-fly RBI in the 7th. Cabral was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Gentry took the loss (5-6) as she pitched a complete-game giving up eight runs (four earned) on 14 hits with one strikeout and three walks.
PVCC 1 2 0 0 0 1 4 8
PCC 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 4
Game 2: Paradise Valley CC Pumas 22, Pima CC Aztecs 19: The Aztecs clawed back after trailing 18-3 heading into the bottom of the 4th inning. They scored six runs in the bottom of the inning and 10 runs in the 5th inning to get as close as 20-19.
Flores hit a two-run RBI single while Cabral had a two-run RBI double. Freshman Alizea Durazo-Corday (Pueblo HS) had an RBI single and Gentry produced an RBI double in the 4th inning as the Aztecs chipped away trailing 18-9.
In the 5th inning, Smith and Durazo-Corday each had two-run RBI doubles and Gentry hit a two-run home run. Flores hit an RBI double and scored on the next play after Durazo-Corday’s RBI single. The Aztecs trailed 20-19 at that point.
The Pumas scored two runs in the top of the 8th and the Aztecs could do no further damage.
Gentry fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle as she finished the game 5 for 5 with three RBIs, two runs scored and two doubles.
Flores was 4 for 6 with four RBIs and three runs scored while Durazo-Corday went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore Chandler Arviso (Cibola HS) finished 4 for 5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Cabral was 3 for 6 with two RBIs and two runs and freshman Ariana Gomez (Sahuaro HS) went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Sophomore Marissa Moreno (Desert Vista HS) took the loss (0-1).
PVCC 8 1 0 9 2 2 0 22
PCC 0 3 0 6 (10) 0 0 19
The Aztecs recognized their eight sophomores after the game: Edith Prieto (Sunnyside HS), Smith, Moreno, Arviso, Vanessa Duarte (Pueblo HS), Flores, Gentry and Alyse Talamante.
The Aztecs close out the regular season on Saturday at South Mountain Community College. First pitch is schedule for 12:00 p.m.
The Aztecs trail Central Arizona College by one game for the final playoff spot at the Region I, Division I Tournament. The Aztecs must sweep the Cougars but the Vaqueras must lose both of their games for the Aztecs to get in.
