(Eloy, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (33-11, 20-8 in ACCAC) dropped two games on the road at No. 2 ranked Central Arizona College (39-5, 26-2) on Saturday in a battle between two NJCAA Division I nationally ranked programs.
The No. 19 ranked Aztecs scored three runs on 11 hits for the day. Sophomore Luis Garcia (Salpointe Catholic HS) closed out the day going 3 for 6 with two RBIs and a run scored while fellow sophomore Andrew Stucky (Canyon del Oro HS) also finished 3 for 6 with an RBI and a walk. Sophomore Anthony Imhoff (Queen Creek HS) and freshman Alessandro Castro (Pusch Ridge Christian HS) took the losses on the mound.
Game 1: (2) Central Arizona College Vaqueros 9, (19) Pima CC Aztecs 2
The Vaqueros scored the first seven runs of the game; one in the 1st inning and three in each the 3rd and 4th innings.
The Aztecs chipped away with two runs in the 5th inning. Garcia hit a one-out RBI double to score sophomore Joey Adge, who drew a lead-off walk. Two batters later, Stucky hit an RBI single to bring in Garcia.
The Vaqueros got the runs back with two in the 8th inning frame.
Stucky was 2 for 3 with an RBI while Garcia finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run. Freshman Benji Cazares (Tucson Magnet HS) and sophomore Rocco Gump (Seton Catholic HS) each went 1 for 3.
Imhoff suffered a rare loss (8-2) as he pitched three and one-third innings, giving up seven runs (four earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk on 81 pitches.
Game 2: (2) Central Arizona College Vaqueros 2, (19) Pima CC Aztecs 1
The Aztecs tied the game in the 7th inning but the Vaqueros responded right back to retake the lead. A play at home plate didn’t work in Pima’s favor in the end.
The Vaqueros got on the board in the 5th inning and the Aztecs tied it up in the 7th inning when Garcia hit an RBI single to score freshman Antonio Avila, who had drawn a one-out walk. Central Arizona retook the lead with a run in the bottom-half of the 7th.
Avila drew a lead-off walk in the 9th and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Garcia and moved to third base on a wild pitch. Sophomore Gage Mestas reached base on a dropped third strike and wild pitch. Mestas stole second base to get in scoring position, but Avila got caught at home plate to end the game.
Garcia finished 2 for 3 with an RBI while Avila drew two walks and scored a run. Stucky was 1 for 3 with a walk. Sophomore Braedon Mondeau (Cienega HS) went 2 for 4 and sophomore Hunter Faildo finished 1 for 4. The Aztecs left 10 runners on base for the game.
Castro took the loss (5-4) as he pitched six and one-third innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts on 64 pitches.
L – Castro (5-4). 2B: Faildo. SB: Mestas, Avila.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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