(Yuma, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (15-5, 3-3 in ACCAC) took to the road for the first time in ACCAC conference play on Tuesday as it went up against Arizona Western College (15-5, 6-4) in a battle between two NJCAA Division I nationally ranked programs.
Nate Gray- Photo/Stephanie van Latum
The No. 16 ranked Aztecs got some timely hits from sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS) in the first game and a strong outing from sophomore Diego Alvarez (Sahuarita HS) in the first game. The Aztecs poured it on in the second game behind sophomore Brant Kragel and a quality start from freshman Nate Gray (Queen Creek HS).
Game 1: (13) Arizona Western Matadors 4, (16) Pima Aztecs 3 (8 innings)
L – Richie (2-1). 2B: Herd, Ganter. 3B: Avila. SB: Herd, Castro.
The Matadors hit a leadoff walk-off homerun in the 8th inning to win as they rallied on two occasions.
The Aztecs took the lead in the 2nd inning when Herd hit an RBI double to center field to bring in sophomore Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS). The Matadors tied the score in the bottom half of the inning.
The Aztecs managed two hits and a hit-by-pitch between the 3rd and 6th inning.
Herd came through again in the 7th inning to put the Aztecs back up 2-1 when he drove an RBI single to score sophomore Antonio Avila, who singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a flyout to right field. Herd took advantage of a couple miscues as he moved to second on an error, to third on a wild pitch and stole home plate to make it 3-1.
The Matadors tied it with two runs in the bottom-half of the 7th to force extra play.
Herd finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Avila went 2 for 3 with a run scored while Hennesy was 1 for 4 with a run.
Freshman Auggie Richie (Sabino HS) took the loss as he pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up one run (one earned) on three hits with one strikeout. Alvarez started the game and pitched four and two-third innings, giving up one run (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2: (16) Pima Aztecs 9, (13) Arizona Western Matadors 1
W – Gray (3-0). GS: Kragel. SB: Avila.
The Aztecs got the split as their big innings came with four runs in the 3rd inning and three runs in the 7th as Gray shut down the Matador offense.
The Aztecs got on the board in the 2nd inning with freshman Chase Cummings’ RBI single to score Avila.
With the bases loaded and one out in the 3rd, Kragel drove a ball to right field for a grand slam bringing around freshman Leon Cereceres, sophomore Nick Arias (Tucson Magnet HS) and sophomore David Shackelford as Pima took a 5-0 lead.
The Aztecs loaded the bases again in the 6th inning as Cummings hit a sacrifice-fly to plate Kragel to make it 6-0.
They tacked on three more insurance runs in the 7th inning that was capped by sophomore Sterling Albrand’s (Millennium HS) two-run RBI single.
Kragel finished the game 2 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Cummings was 1 for 3 with two RBIs while Cereceres and Shackelford each went 1 for 4 with two runs scored. Albrand finished 1 for 1 with two RBIs.
Gray picked up the win as he pitched five and two-third innings, giving up one run (one earned) on four hits with eight strikeouts and one walk on 59 pitches. Sophomore Garrett Hicks (Verrado HS) threw the final one and one-third innings with two strikeouts.
The Aztecs are back at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field on Saturday when they host South Mountain Community College in an ACCAC conference doubleheader. First game starts at noon.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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