Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College baseball team (14-14, 6-12 in ACCAC) dropped a pair of games on Saturday at the West Campus Baseball Field to Yavapai College (11-12, 5-5).
Freshman Javier Nava finished the day 5 for 7 at the plate while sophomore Logan Klunder went 2 for 7 with two RBIs. Freshman Rafael Padilla (Nogales HS) also had two RBIs on the day.
Game 1: Yavapai College Roughriders 4, Pima CC Aztecs (7 innings): Down 3-0, the Aztecs cut the deficit with two runs in the 6th inning but could not overtake the lead.
Padilla hit an RBI triple with two outs to score freshman Matthew Hackman (Empire HS). Klunder followed with an RBI single to plate Padilla.
The Aztecs have struggled scoring runs in the first game of their doubleheaders. They had scored just two runs in their previous five opening games.
Padilla finished 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored. Klunder went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Freshman Javier Nava was 3 for 3 and sophomore Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS) went 2 for 3.
Freshman Michael Wong took the loss (2-3) as he pitched five innings giving up three runs (three earned) on three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2: Yavapai College Roughriders 7, Pima CC Aztecs 5: The Aztecs rally was cut short again as the Roughriders took a 7-0 lead after the 6th inning.
The Aztecs had bases loaded with no outs in both the 7th and 8th innings. The Aztecs scored three runs in the 7th. Klunder hit an RBI single while freshman Enrique Porchas (Kofa HS) scored a wild pitch to make it 7-2. Sophomore Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS) grounded out in a double-play but scored Padilla. Freshman Juan Durazo (Salpointe Catholic HS) flied out to right field to end the inning.
The Aztecs scored another two runs in the 8th. Nava hit an RBI single to plate sophomore Jesus Solis (Nogales HS), who drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Padilla drew a bases loaded walk to score freshman Fabian Ferreira (Tucson HS). Klunder struck out and Mendez grounded out to end the threat.
Nava was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Klunder finished 1 for 4 with an RBI. Ferreira went 1 for 2 with a run scored and Padilla was 0 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Ryon Craig (Cienega HS) took the loss (3-1) in a relief appearance as he pitched two and two-third innings giving up four runs (four earned) on six hits with two strikeouts.
YC 0 0 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 7 10 1
PCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 6 0
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus Baseball Field on Tuesday when they host Scottsdale Community College for an ACCAC doubleheader. First pitch is at noon.
