Courtesy of Pima Athletics
Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College baseball team (18-24) righted the ship to snap its six-game losing streak on Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader against Arizona Christian University JV team.
The Aztecs got a solid start from sophomore Jose Contreras (Tucson HS). Freshman Rafael Padilla (Nogales HS) did his work at the plate as he finished 3 for 7 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 4, Arizona Christian University JV Firestorm 2 (7 innings): The Aztecs scored three runs in the 5th inning and had to hold off a rally in the 7th inning to earn the win.
Padilla hit an RBI double to score freshman Javier Nava, who hit a leadoff single to open the 5thinning. With the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS) drew a walk to score Padilla to make it 3-0. Freshman Juan Durazo (Salpointe Catholic HS) was hit by a pitch, which brought in sophomore Logan Klunder.
Padilla put the Aztecs on the board with an RBI single in the 3rd inning as he finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Nava went 2 for 4 while Klunder was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Contreras threw five scoreless innings as he picked up the win (4-3). He gave up four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
ACU 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 8 0
PCC 0 0 1 0 3 0 x 4 7 0
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 15, Arizona Christian University JV Firestorm 5 (7 innings): The Aztecs left no doubt after scoring two runs in the 5th, three runs in the 6th and four runs in the 7thinning to cap off the mercy-rule win.
The Aztecs drew four straight walks in the 7th inning and Durazo hit an RBI single to score freshman Enrique Porchas (Kofa HS) to seal the win.
Sophomore Martin Garcia (Tucson HS) and Padilla each hit two-run RBI singles in the 2nd inning to put the Aztecs up 5-0.
The Firestorm scored four runs in the 5th inning to cut Pima’s lead to 6-4. Durazo and freshman Fabian Ferreira (Tucson HS) countered right back in the bottom half of the inning with RBI hits to put the Aztecs back up 8-4.
Durazo finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Garcia went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Freshman Michael Wong was 1 for 2 with an RBI and four runs scored and three walks. Porchas went 1 for 2 with two RBIs, two runs scored and three walks.
The Aztecs drew 12 walks in the game.
Freshman Robert Herrera (1-0) picked up the win in relief as he pitched two innings giving up one run (one earned) on four hits with one strikeout.
ACU 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 5 12 3
PCC 1 4 1 0 2 3 4 15 13 0
The Aztecs continue the home stand as they get back to ACCAC conference play on Saturday against Mesa Community College. The first pitch will be at 12:00 p.m.
