(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College softball team (36-23) dropped its opening game but bounced back to avoid elimination on Friday in the first day of the NJCAA Region I, Division I Tournament.
The Aztecs lost a close one to Central Arizona College but picked up a victory over Arizona Western College. Freshman Camila Zepeda (Tucson Magnet HS) finished the day 3 for 8 with five RBIs and four runs scored while sophomore Elise Munoz (Salpointe Catholic HS) closed out her day going 4 for 8 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Freshman Alexis Tsosie-Hood got both decisions on the mound.
“I am proud of the way my team is competing this postseason. We are doing the little things and continuing to piece them together even with our backs against the walls,” Pima softball coach Rebekah Quiroz said. “Our region is the best in the country and we’ve beat up on each other all year so now its’ just about showing up and shutting the door. Our plan is to keep throwing punches and control the controllables. We are fighting for our life and we’ll do whatever it takes.”
L – Tsosie-Hood (0-1). 2B: A. Castro. 3B: Zepeda. HR: Tapia. SB: Chacon.
The Vaqueras won the game on a walk-off RBI single in the 7th inning.
Down 8-6 in the 6th inning and with one out, Zepeda reached base on an error and Zylinski-Wrobel was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Sophomore Stephanie Tapia (Cibola HS) drove the first pitch she saw to left field for the three-run homer to put the Aztecs up 9-8.
The Vaqueras tied the game in the 6th inning on a sacrifice-fly RBI. They started the 7th inning with a triple, which set up the walk-off hit.
The Aztecs got the bats going in the 1st inning as the first four batters reach base. Zepeda and Zylinski-Wrobel hit back-to-back RBI singles to drive in Munoz and sophomore Analisa Gomez (University HS) respectively. Tsosie-Hood helped her own cause as she drilled a two-run RBI single to center field to plate Zepeda and Zylinski-Wrobel as the Aztecs took a 4-0 lead.
The Vaqueras scored in the 2nd inning but the Aztecs responded to get the run back when Munoz hit an RBI single to bring in Chacon to make it 5-1.
Up 5-4 in the 4th inning, Zepeda led off the inning with a triple and was driven in by Zylinski-Wrobel’s sacrifice-fly RBI.
Tapia finished the game 1 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored while Zepeda closed it out going 2 for 5 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Zylinski-Wrobel was 1 for 1 with two RBIs and two runs and Tsosie-Hood went 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Munoz finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run.
Tsosie-Hood took the loss as she pitched two and two-third innings, giving up five runs (five earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
W – Tsosie-Hood (1-1). 2B: A. Castro, Tsosie-Hood. HR: Zepeda.
The Aztecs rallied to take the lead and created more of cushion with four runs in the 6th inning.
Down 2-1 in the 3rd inning, the Aztecs got a boost from Zepeda, who hit a three-run home run at center field to score sophomore Mia Casadei (Tanque Verde HS) and Munoz, who hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. The Aztecs took a 4-2 lead at that point.
The Aztecs clinged to a 4-3 advantage but produced more offense in the 6th inning. Sophomore Alejandra Castro hit a lead off double and freshman Mina Chacon (Tucson Magnet HS) reached base on a single. Casadei and Munoz hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 6-3. Zepeda brought in pinch runner Jazlyn Felix (Willcox HS) on a sacrifice-fly RBI. Freshman Mallory Zylinski-Wrobel (Sahuarita HS) capped it off with an RBI single to bring around Munoz as Pima led 8-3.
Zepeda finished the game 1 for 3 with four RBIs and a run scored. Casadei was 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run while Munoz went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Zylinski-Wrobel closed out the game at 1 for 2 with an RBI, a run and two walks. Alejandra Castro was 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run.
Tsosie-Hood threw a complete-game, giving up four runs (four earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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