(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (16-6, 11-5 in ACCAC) won its sixth straight game on Tuesday as the Aztecs took two from GateWay Community College (5-16, 4-12) at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field.
The Aztecs scored 23 runs on the day as freshman Romeo Ballesteros (Salpointe Catholic HS) continued his production going 4 for 6 with six RBIs while freshman Alex Kelch (Tucson Magnet HS) was 4 for 8 with four RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Daniel Durazo (Salpointe Catholic HS) finished his day 4 for 8 with two RBIs and four runs.
Freshmen starting pitchers Wilson Bannister and Jaren Jackson picked up victories on the mound.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 10, GateWay CC Geckos 4
The Aztecs broke the game open with seven runs in the 5th inning to take control.
Durazo and sophomore Angel Ochoa (Canyon del Oro HS) hit back-to-back RBI singles to give Pima the lead at 5-4. Kelch capped off the inning with a 2-run RBI double scoring sophomore Bailey Seeger and freshman Parker Schmidt.
Durazo led off the 4th inning with a home run to cut Pima’s deficit to 3-2. He finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Ballesteros continued his offensive success as he hit RBI singles in the 2nd and 4th innings. He had a sacrifice-fly RBI in the 5th and went 2 for 2 with three RBIs.
Kelch was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Ochoa finished 1 for 2 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Schmidt and sophomore Terrell Huggins (Cienega HS) each had an RBI and a run scored.
Bannister (3-2) picked up the win after he pitched five and one-third innings giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts.
GWCC 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 4 7 1
PCC 0 1 0 2 7 0 x 10 10 2
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 13, GateWay CC Geckos 3 (8 innings)
The offensive production continued for the Aztecs as they ended the game with a mercy-rule victory in the 8thinning after Rollon hit a walk-off RBI single to score pinch runner Andre Greene (Rio Rico HS).
The Aztecs scored four runs in the 5th inning as they loaded the bases with one out. Huggins drew a walk to score freshman Trent Kiraly to make it 6-2. With two outs, Ballesteros cleared the bases with a 3-run RBI triple plating Durazo, Ochoa and Huggins.
Kelch hit his second 2-run RBI hit of the day in the 7th when he scored Ballesteros and freshman Logan Sanders (Catalina Foothills HS) to make it 12-3.
Ochoa and Schmidt had RBI singles in the 2nd inning as Pima took a 3-1 lead.
Ballesteros finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run. Rollon went 2 for 5 with three RBIs while Kelch was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
Ochoa went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Durazo finished 2 for 4 with two runs. Huggins went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs. Freshman Fernando Loera scored three runs.
Jackson (4-1) picked up the win as he threw seven quality innings giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk on 101 pitches.
GWCC 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 4 2
PCC 0 3 2 0 4 0 3 1 13 16 4
The Aztecs return to the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field part of the Chapman Auto Sports Complex on Wednesday when they host a non-conference single game against Community Christian College. First pitch is at 1:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
