(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (16-9) faced a tough test in non-conference play on Tuesday as it hosted Central Arizona College (17-5) at the West Campus Aztec Field.
The No. 21 ranked Aztecs (Division II) dropped two games to the No. 25 ranked Vaqueros (Division I). Freshman Aciel Guillen (Salpointe Catholic HS) closed out the day going 3-for-7 with four RBIs and a run scored while sophomore Jackson Glueck finished 4-for-6 with and RBI and two runs. Sophomore Cam Grenert (Horizon HS) and freshman Jesse Neretlis took the losses on the mound.
Game 1: (25) Central Arizona Vaqueros 6, (21) Pima Aztecs 5
The Vaqueros took advantage of a miscue in the top of the 7th inning as the Aztecs left the bases loaded to end the game.
Freshmen Damian Lorta (Desert View HS), Cooper Kruk (Catalina Foothills HS) and Glueck hit three straight singles to begin the 2nd inning. Guillen followed with a two-run RBI single to center field to bring in Lorta and Kruk. Freshman Westin Thompson had a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Glueck as Pima took a 3-1 lead.
The Vaqueros countered with a three-run 3rd inning to retake the advantage. The Aztecs tied the game at 4-4 after Glueck’s RBI single drove in freshman Ezra Vidal (Sahuarita HS).
The Aztecs continued the see-saw battle as they went up 5-4 when Lorta hit a solo home run to right field in the 5thinning.
Central Arizona took the lead for good in the 7th inning when a throw to first base was off the mark and two runners scored.
Lorta finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Guillen went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Glueck was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Kruk closed it out going 1-for-3 with a run.
Grenert took the loss in a relief appearance as he threw three and one-third innings, giving up two runs (none earned) on one hit with five strikeouts and three walks on 56 pitches.
L – Grenert (1-3). HR: Lorta. SB: Glueck.
Game 2: (25) Central Arizona Vaqueros 10, (21) Pima Aztecs 4
The Aztecs were forced to play catch-up for much of the second game.
Pima got on the board in the 2nd inning when sophomore Owen Wade (Pinnacle HS) knocked an RBI double to center field to score Guillen as the Aztecs trailed 2-1.
The Vaqueros scored seven straight runs, but the Aztecs put together a rally in the 5th inning as sophomore Matt MacDonald hit an RBI single to plate freshman Adriel Figueroa-Brito. Guillen followed with a two-run RBI single to score Glueck and MacDonald as Pima trailed 9-4.
Central Arizona added one more run in the 6th inning.
Guillen finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. MacDonald went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Glueck was 2-for-3 with a run. Figueroa-Brito closed it out, going 2-for-4 with a run and Wade went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Neretlis took the loss in his start as he pitched two innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on two hits with three strikeouts and one walk on 40 pitches.
L – Neretlis (2-1). 2B: Figueroa-Brito, Wade. SB: Guillen.
The Aztecs get back to ACCAC Division II conference play on Saturday when they hit the road for a doubleheader at No. 6 South Mountain Community College. First game starts at 12:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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