(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (27-25, 19-20 in ACCAC) picked up a big win in its final regular season home game on Wednesday at the West Campus Aztec Field.
The Aztecs rallied with six runs in the 7th inning and three runs in the 8th inning to beat the Gauchos 12-8 to keep their hopes of making the Region I, Division II Playoffs alive.
There were four lead changes in the game. The Aztecs trailed 6-3 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning. Freshman Aciel Guillen (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score sophomore Owen Wade. Sophomore Matt MacDonald followed with an RBI triple to bring in sophomore Mike Jones (Canyon del Oro HS). Sophomore Ramon Martinez produced Pima’s third straight RBI hit as he doubled to drive in MacDonald to tie the game at 6-6.
The Aztecs took the lead when Martinez scored on a balk. Two batters later, freshman Adriel Figueroa-Brito hit an RBI single to plate sophomore Leon Cereceres. Freshman Cooper Kruk (Catalina Foothills HS) capped off the inning with his RBI single that brought in Figueroa-Brito to make it 9-6.
Guillen and MacDonald drew back-to-back walks to open the 8th inning. With one out, Cereceres drove a shot to right field to score them both. Two batters later, sophomore Jackson Glueck hit an RBI double to center field to score Cereceres as Pima went up 12-6.
The Aztecs got on the board in the 1st inning when Kruk hit an RBI single to score Figueroa-Brito.
Guillen put the Aztecs up 3-2 in the 4th inning on his RBI double that brought in freshman Damian Lorta (Desert View HS) and Jones.
Glendale’s Josue Malave put them ahead in the 5th inning with his grand slam to give the Gauchos a 6-3 advantage.
Guillen finished the game going 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Cereceres went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Kruk was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Figueroa-Brito closed it out, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. MacDonald was 1-for-1 with an RBI and two runs. Jones went 2-for-4 with two runs and Glueck finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The Aztecs finished with eight doubles for the game.
Freshman Jesse Neretlis picked up the win in relief as he pitched four innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts on 50 pitches.
W – Neretlis (4-2). 2B: Figueroa-Brito, Guillen, Kruk, Lorta, Glueck, Cereceres, Jones, Martinez. 3B: MacDonald. SB:Cereceres.
The Aztecs close out the regular season on Saturday at South Mountain Community College. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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