Courtesy of Pima Athletics
Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College softball team (35-17, 26-16 in ACCAC) was put through the ringer on Saturday in its ACCAC conference doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
The Aztecs played in two tightly knitted games against the Coyotes (15-25, 15-25) but one came down to pitching while the other turned into an offense slugfest.
Pima softball head coach Armando Quiroz picked up his 500th career victory at Pima after the team’s win in the first game.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 1, Chandler-Gilbert CC Coyotes
The Aztecs scored the only run of the game in the 4th inning while freshman pitcher Alese Casper threw a one-hit shutout. Freshman
Mya Cabral (Pueblo HS) hit a single with one out in the 4th. Sophomore Sierra Gentry followed with a double and Cabral scored on a throwing error.
The Aztecs finished with five hits as Cabral finished 2 for 3. Gentry, Casper, freshman Alizea Durazo-Corday (Pueblo HS) and sophomore Edith Prieto (Sunnyside HS) all finished 1 for 3 in the game.
Casper got the win (12-8) as she threw a complete-game shutout giving up one hit with five strikeouts.
PCC 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 2
CGCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 17, Chandler-Gilbert CC Coyotes 14 (9 innings):
The Aztecs saw a 10-0 advantage dissipate as the Coyotes took the lead but the Pima offense came through in extra innings to help seal it.
With the game tied 14-14 in the 9th inning, sophomore Alyssa Smith (Winslow HS) hit an RBI single. Later in the inning, Cabral added some insurance with her two-run RBI single to score Smith and Casper.
The Aztecs were forced to rally in the top of the 7th. Down 12-11, freshmen Mackenzie Judge (Ironwood Ridge HS) and Ariana Gomez (Sahuaro HS) hit back-to-back singles. Casper drove them in with a two-run RBI double to put the Aztecs ahead. Cabal added an RBI single to plate Casper to make it 14-12.
Casper finished 2 for 6 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Durazo-Corday hit a three-run home run in the 1st inning and finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Cabral finished 4 for 5 with four RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Maria Vanezza-Caldera (Tucson HS) went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Gomez went 4 for 5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Prieto was 2 for 6 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Casper picked up the win (13-8) as she pitched six and two-third innings giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
PCC 5 5 0 0 1 0 3 0 3 17
CGCC 0 0 4 5 2 1 2 0 0 14
Coach Quiroz reflected on what his 500th win meant to him.
“My thoughts go to all the great players that have come through our program and to all the great assistants I have been blessed with,” Quiroz said. “To be able to coach and coach with my daughter Rebekah is a dream experience. Thank you to my loving wife Elsa, who is always supportive and understanding. Thank you to all the special people that God has put in my life. I am truly blessed. GO PIMA AZTECS.”
The Aztecs hit the road on Tuesday as they play an ACCAC conference doubleheader at Phoenix College. First pitch will be at 1:00 p.m.
