(Paradise Valley, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (18-6, 6-4 in ACCAC) fell short of earning an ACCAC conference road sweep on Tuesday at Paradise Valley Community College (15-9, 5-7).
The No. 15 ranked Aztecs won the first game after sophomore Diego Alvarez (Sahuarita HS) had a strong start but Pima fell on a walk-off in the second game. Sophomore Dom Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) finished the day 3 for 8 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Fellow sophomore Elijah Reeves (Marana HS) went 4 for 5 with two RBIs, two runs and two steals.
Game 1: (15) Pima Aztecs 5, Paradise Valley Pumas 1
W – Alvarez (3-0). 2B: Castro. SB: Avila, Shackelford, Reeves.
The Aztecs took the lead with a run in each the 3rd and 4th innings and added some insurance in the 6th. Alvarez did the rest as he pitched a complete-game.
Sophomore Nick Arias (Tucson Magnet HS) hit a two-out RBI single to score Reeves and put Pima on the board. Felix made it 2-0 with his RBI single in the 4th inning to drive in sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS), who hit a double to get in scoring position.
Felix came through again in the 6th inning with a two-run RBI single to once again score Castro, as well as pinch runner Jontae Hennessy (Horizon HS). Felix capped off the inning by scoring on a passed ball.
Felix finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run while Reeves went 2 for 2 with a run scored. Arias was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Castro closed it out going 1 for 3 with two runs.
Alvarez pitched all seven innings, giving up one run (none earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks on 79 pitches.
Game 2: Paradise Valley Pumas 5, (15) Pima Aztecs 4
L – Lee (1-2). 2B: Felix, Ganter. SB: Shackelford, Reeves.
The Pumas rallied scoring four unanswered runs, which included two in the bottom of the 9th inning to win it on a walk-off two-run RBI single.
The Aztecs got on the board in the 2nd inning when Reeves hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to bring in Felix.
Freshman Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) drove an RBI double to score sophomore David Shackelford, who hit a lead-off double in the 3rd inning.
The Aztecs went up 3-1 in the 4th inning after sophomore Antonio Avila hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Reeves, who singled, stole second base and reached third on an error.
Elijah Reeves – Photo/Ben Alcarez
Felix hit a lead-off double in the 5th inning and scored with two outs after Reeves’ RBI single with two outs. Pima took a 4-1 lead.
The Pumas scored two runs in the 6th inning and trailed 4-3 heading into the 9th.
Reeves finished the game 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run while Shackelford went 2 for 3 with a run and a walk. Felix was 1 for 4 with two runs scored and Ganter finished 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Freshman Seth Lee took the loss as he pitched two-thirds of the 9th inning, giving up two runs (none earned) on three hits with one strikeout. Freshman Nate Gray (Queen Creek HS) started the game and pitched four innings, giving up one run (one earned) on two hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus Aztec Field on Saturday when they host Mesa Community College in an ACCAC doubleheader. First game starts at 12:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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