(Prescott, AZ) The Pima Community College softball team (30-27) is still alive in the NJCAA Region I, Division I Tournament after Friday’s day of competition.
The No. 4 seeded Aztecs dropped their first game of the tournament to No. 1 Arizona Western College but bounced back in the elimination game against No. 2 seeded Yavapai College.
Elimination Game: (4) Pima CC Aztecs 11, (2) Yavapai College Roughriders 5
The Aztecs created a cushion with three runs in the 4th, one in the 5th and helped seal it with three more in the 7th inning.
The Aztecs did their damage with two outs in the 4th inning. Up 4-3, sophomore Devynn Marshall (Shadow Ridge HS) hit an RBI triple to drive in sophomore Alese Casper. After a pair of walks to load the bases, freshman Kylee Leach was hit by a pitch to score Marshall. Freshman Amaya Turner-Vizcarra (Tucson HS) followed with an RBI single to score sophomore Maria Vanezza Caldera (Tucson HS). The Aztecs led 7-3 at that point.
In the 7th inning, Marshall hit a two-run RBI double scoring sophomores Janice Garcia (Rio Rico HS) and Ariana Gomez (Sahuaro HS) to make it 10-4. Marshall would score on Caldera’s RBI double.
Garcia hit a two-run RBI single in the 2nd inning and finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Marshall went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs while Caldera was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, a run and a walk. Casper went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run. Turner-Vizcarra was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Bianca Castillo (Rio Rico HS) pitched a complete-game and picked up the win (12-12). She gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits with three strikeouts and two walks on 118 pitches. The Roughriders stranded 11 runners on base.
PCC 1 3 0 3 1 0 3 11 16 2
YAV 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 5 11 1
(Opening Round): (1) Arizona Western College Matadors 6, (4) Pima CC Aztecs 3
The Aztecs took an early lead but the offense struggled to score runs.
The Aztecs stranded eight runners on base for the game. They threatened in the 7th inning hitting back-to-back singles with one out. Marshall flew out for the second out but Caldera drove in Gomez with an RBI single. Sophomore Alizea Durazo-Corday (Pueblo HS) grounded out to end the game with runners on the corners.
The Aztecs took the lead after the top of the 1st inning. Durazo-Corday hit an RBI single with two outs to score Marshall.
The Aztecs cut into Arizona Western’s lead in the 5th. Gomez hit a leadoff single which was followed by Casper’s triple. Gomez got caught at home plate for the first out. Casper scored on the next play when Marshall hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Durazo-Corday finished the game 2 for 4 with an RBI. Marshall went 1 for 3 with an RBI while Gomez and Casper each were 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk.
Castillo (11-12) took the loss as she pitched four innings giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
PCC 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 10 1
AWC 2 0 0 1 2 1 x 6 11 1
The Aztecs must win out on Saturday to claim the NJCAA Region I, Division I championship. Their first hurdle will be against the loser of Friday afternoon’s game between Arizona Western College/Central Arizona College. The Aztecs will play at 10:00 a.m.
