Aztecs Softball drops doubleheader at Phoenix College

The Pima Community College softball team (17-4, 11-3 in ACCAC) faced a tough test on the road on Saturday as it played an ACCAC conference doubleheader at Phoenix College (18-2, 12-2).
The No. 9 ranked Aztecs got swept by the No. 13 Bears. The Aztecs had 17 hits on the day but managed just four runs. Sophomore Jiselle Nunez (Tucson Magnet HS) produced a strong second game while sophomore Julissa Lopez (Tucson Magnet HS) finished 2-for-6 with a run scored. Freshman Soleil Ponce (Sunnyside HS) was 2-for-5 with two walks. Sophomore Amerika Lopez-Bedoy (Sunnyside HS) went 2-for-7 with a run.
Sophomore Belen Camacho (Pueblo HS) and freshman Adriana Machado (Canyon del Oro HS) took the losses in the circle.

• Game 1: (13) Phoenix College Bears 5, (9) Pima CC Aztecs 0: The Aztecs stranded six runners on base and had six hits for the game.
  The Aztecs left two runners on base in the 5^th and 7^th innings.
  Freshman Alyssa Aguirre (Sabino HS), Lopez, Ponce, Lopez-Bedoy and freshman Kayla Hendrix (Canyon del Oro HS) each finished 1-for-3 while freshman Isabel Mendoza (Cienega HS) was 1-for-2 with a walk.
  The Bears scored one run in the 1^st inning and four runs in the 5^th.
  Camacho took the loss as she pitched four innings, giving up five runs (five earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and five walks on 80 pitches.

PCC   0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0   6   0
PC      1 0 0 0 4 0 x   5   6   0

L – Camacho (5-2). SB: Rodriguez.

• Game 2: (13) Phoenix College Bears 7, (9) Pima CC Aztecs 4: The Aztecs took an early lead but the Bears rallied in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings.
  Nunez put Pima on the scoreboard with a two-run home run in the 1^st inning that scored Lopez.
  Sophomore Clarissa Figueroa (Mountain View HS) added to the lead in the 2^nd inning with an RBI single to score Lopez-Bedoy to make it 3-0.
  The Bears tied the game in the bottom of the 2^nd inning and scored two more in the 3^rd to take a 5-3 advantage.
  The Aztecs got a run back in the top of the 4^th inning after Figueroa reached base on an error and freshman Izabel Rodriguez (Sahuarita HS) scored on the play as the Aztecs trailed 5-4. The Bears added two more runs in their part of the 4^th.
  The Aztecs loaded the bases with no outs in the 5^th inning, but two strikeouts and a fielder's choice play to third base ended the threat. They also had two runners on in the 7^th inning, but the tying run lined out to end the game.
  Nunez finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run while Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a run. Figueroa was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Lopez closed it out, going 1-for-3 with a run. Lopez-Bedoy finished 1-for-4 with a run.
  Machado suffered her first loss of the season as she pitched two innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits.

PCC   2 1 0 1 0 0 0   4   11   1
PC     0 3 2 2 0 0 x    7   13   1

L – Machado (5-1). 2B: Lopez-Bedoy, Ponce. HR: Nunez.

The Aztecs will return to the field next Saturday, Mar. 7 when they play an ACCAC doubleheader at Mesa Community College. First game starts at 12:00 p.m.