(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (44-16) put together a rally but it wasn’t enough on Friday in Game 2 of the NJCAA Region I, Division I Championship Series.
The No. 3 seeded Aztecs fell to No. 4 seed Arizona Western College 10-6 as the best-of-3 series is now tied at 1-1.
The Aztecs managed six hits in the first eight innings but had nothing to show for it as the Matadors (35-17) held a 10-0 lead with three runs in the 1st, one in the 5th and six runs in the 8th innings.
The Aztecs got on the board when sophomore Braedon Mondeau (Cienega HS) hit a one-out RBI triple to score sophomore Rocco Gump (Seton Catholic HS). Mondeau was driven in by freshman Antonio Avila, who hit a two-run homer to left field to make it 10-3.
With two outs in the inning, sophomores Gage Mestas and Andrew Stucky (Canyon del Oro HS) hit back-to-back singles. Sophomore Hunter Faildo took advantage and drove an RBI double to plate Mestas. Freshman Benji Cazares (Tucson Magnet HS) followed suit with a two-run RBI single to bring around Stucky and Faildo. That’s as close as the Aztecs would get as freshman David Shackelford popped out in foul territory to end the game.
“We didn’t get the win at the end of the day and we’re going to come out tomorrow strong. Putting up six in the 9th is definitely going to give us some momentum to get the bats out early tomorrow,” sophomore infielder Braedon Mondeau said. “They had a good arm on the mound (Roland Marte). He’s beat us a couple times this year just mixing up speeds and keeping us off balance.”
Marte pitched eight innings, giving up six hits with five strikeouts for the Matadors.
Mondeau finished the game 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored while Avila went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Cazares was 1 for 5 with two RBIs.
Faildo provided Pima’s first hit of the game to leadoff the 4th inning and closed out the game going 2 for 5 with an RBI. Mestas, Stucky and Gump each scored a run.
Sophomore Anthony Imhoff (Queen Creek HS) took the loss (1-1) as he pitched four and two-third innings, giving up four runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
“We’re going to come out confident tomorrow,” Mondeau said. “This is our field, and we get to play for a region championship.”
The Aztecs and the Matadors will face off one more time in the deciding Game 3 for the NJCAA Region I, Division I Championship. First pitch is at noon at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field.
AWC 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 10 15 2
PCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 13 0
L – Imhoff (1-1). 2B: Faildo. 3B: Mondeau. HR: Avila. SB: Avila.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
