(Thatcher, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (22-6, 10-4 in ACCAC) rallied to get an ACCAC conference sweep on the road on Tuesday at Eastern Arizona College (10-12, 5-11).
Sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS) closed out the day going 1 for 4 with four RBIs, two runs scored and five walks. Sophomore Nick Arias (Tucson Magnet HS) was 3 for 8 with two RBIs and two runs while sophomore David Shackelford finished 3 for 8 with four runs scored.
Game 1: (15) Pima Aztecs 12, Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters 8
W – Alvarez (4-0). 2B: Avila. 3B: Herd. SB: Shackelford.
The Aztecs broke a tie with eight runs in the 3rd inning. Sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS) drove a two-run RBI single to plate sophomores Elijah Reeves (Marana HS) and Antonio Avila to make it 4-2. Freshman Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) and sophomore Dom Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) each followed with RBI singles. Avila capped off the inning with a three-run RBI double scoring Felix, Herd and Reeves to make it 10-2.
Caleb Herd – Photo/Gilbert Alcaraz
Herd drew a bases loaded walk in the 4th and hit an RBI triple in the 5th inning as he finished 1 for 2 with two RBIs, a run scored and two walks. Avila went 2 for 5 with three RBIs and a run while Castro was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a run. Ganter finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run and Felix went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run.
Sophomore Diego Alvarez (Sahuarita HS) got the win as he pitched two and two-third innings, giving up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with one strikeout. Sophomore Garrett Hicks (Verrado HS) closed out the final three and one-third innings, giving up one hit with one strikeout.
Game 2: (15) Pima CC Aztecs 12, Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters 8
W – White (1-1). 2B: Arias. HR: Madsen, Cummings
The Aztecs rallied from an eight-run deficit to snag the second game and complete the sweep.
Down 8-0 in the 5th inning, the Aztecs got on the board after Arias hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score sophomore Austin Madsen (Canyon del Oro HS). Ganter drew a lead-off walk in the 6th inning and with two outs, was driven in after Madsen’s two-run homer to cut it to 8-3.
Arias and Shackelford drew back-to-back walks to lead off the 7th inning and freshman Chase Cummings went yard with a three-run home run as Pima trailed 8-6.
Shackelford singled and Ganter walked to start off the 9th inning and with one out, Felix hit an RBI single to cut to a one-run deficit. Madsen’s single loaded the bases and Herd drew a walk score Sterling Albrand (Millennium HS) to tie it up. With two outs in the inning, Felix put the Aztecs on top after he scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS) followed with a two-run RBI single to bring in Madsen and Herd. Arias capped the rally with an RBI double to score Hennesy. The Aztecs scored six runs in the inning.
Cummings finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs and a run while Madsen was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Hennesy went 1 for 1 with two RBIs and a run. Arias went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Herd was 0 for 2 with an RBI, a run and three walks. Felix closed it out going 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run.
Sophomore Tommy White (Cibola HS) got the win after he pitched four shutout innings in relief, giving up one hit with six strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Nate Gray (Queen Creek HS) closed out the 9th inning, giving up one hit with one strikeout and one walk.
The Aztecs will play at Central Arizona College on Saturday in an ACCAC doubleheader. First game starts at noon.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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