(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (12-5, 3-3 in ACCAC) bounced back after dropping the first game on Saturday in its ACCAC conference doubleheader against Arizona Western College (10-6, 4-4).
Sophomore leadoff hitter Gage Mestas finished the day 3 for 8 with four runs scored and an RBI while sophomore Hunter Faildo also went 3 for 8 with three RBIs. Sophomore Anthony Imhoff (Queen Creek HS) suffered his first loss of the season while freshman Alessandro Castro (Pusch Ridge Christian HS) picked up the win.
Game 1: Arizona Western College Matadors 10, Pima CC Aztecs 2
The Matadors broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the 2nd and two runs in the 3rd inning as the Aztecs struggled to bring runs around. They left seven runners stranded on base for the game.
Faildo hit a groundout RBI in the 1st inning to score Mestas to tie it at 1-1. In the 3rdinning, Mestas was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored two batters later off an RBI single by Faildo,
Mestas went 2 for 3 with two runs scored while Faildo was 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Sophomore Braedon Mondeau (Cienega HS) finished 2 for 3 and sophomore Joey Adge closed out the game going 1 for 2.
Imhoff took the loss (3-1) as he pitched one and one-third innings, giving up five runs (five earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
AWC 1 4 2 0 0 3 0 10 8 2
PCC 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 10 2
L – Imhoff (3-1). 2B: Garcia. SB: Mestas.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 11, Arizona Western College Matadors 10
The Aztecs were able to hold off an Arizona Western surge in the later innings.
Down 4-2 in the 3rd inning, the Aztecs rallied with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. After the first two batters got singles to reach base, freshman Brant Kragel hit an RBI single to score sophomore Andrew Stucky (Canyon del Oro HS). Freshman Elijah Reeves (Marana HS) scored on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 4-4. Kragel scored on a passed ball and freshman Austin Madsen (Canyon del Oro HS) made it 6-4 with his RBI single driving in Mondeau.
Kragel hit an RBI triple in the 4th inning to score Reeves. The Aztecs tacked on another three runs in the 5th inning. Madsen scored on a bunt-out by sophomore Luis Garcia (Salpointe Catholic HS). Mestas tripled to score sophomore Andrew Maxwell, which was followed by Stucky’s RBI single to plate Mestas as the Aztecs took a 10-4 lead.
The Matadors scored a run in the 6th, two in the 7th inning to cut it to 10-7. The Aztecs got a run back in the 7th when Garcia hit a triple and later scored on an error. It proved crucial as the Matadors scored another run in the 8th and two in the 9th inning with the tying-run stranded at third base to end the game.
Kragel finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Mondeau and Stucky each went 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. Mestas was 1 for 5 with two runs. Faildo went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Madsen finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Garcia closed it out going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run.
Castro picked up the win (3-1) after he pitched five innings, giving up five runs (five earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Freshman J.T. Drake earned his fifth save of the season after throwing the final two and one-third innings giving up three runs (three earned) on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
AWC 0 2 2 0 0 1 2 1 2 10 14 3
PCC 2 0 4 1 3 0 1 0 x 11 16 1
W – Castro (3-1). S – Drake (5). 2B: Madsen, Mondeau. 3B: Kragel, Garcia, Mestas. SB: Garcia, Reeves, Mestas.
The Aztecs will play an ACCAC doubleheader at South Mountain Community College on Tuesday in Phoenix. First game starts at noon.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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