(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (22-23, 14-18 in ACCAC) hosted an ACCAC conference doubleheader on Tuesday against South Mountain Community College (37-11, 28-4) at the West Campus Aztec Field.
The Aztecs scored 21 runs on the day but surrendered 27 as the Cougars got the sweep.
Sophomore Jackson Glueck and freshman Damian Lorta (Desert View HS) each had four hits on the day. Glueck went 4-for-8 with four RBIs and three runs scored while Lorta closed out the day, going 4-for-7 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Freshman Braxton Bjur (Verrado HS) and sophomore Brady Hall took the decisions on the mound.
Game 1: (5) South Mountain Cougars 13, Pima Aztecs 12
The Aztecs were in danger of getting run-ruled as they scored nine unanswered runs but fell short in the end.
Down 13-3 in the 5th inning, Lorta hit an RBI single with two outs that scored Glueck to keep the game alive.
The Aztecs continued to build momentum with six runs in the 6th inning. Glueck hit a two-run RBI single bringing in sophomore Leon Cereceres and freshman Adriel Figueroa-Brito to cut the deficit to 13-8. With two outs, sophomore Matt MacDonald came through with a two-run RBI single of his own, scoring Glueck and freshman Cooper Kruk (Catalina Foothills HS) to make it 13-10.
The Aztecs scored two runs in the 7th inning. Freshman Westin Thompson drew a lead-off walk and scored two batters later when Figueroa-Brito hit an RBI single. Glueck grounded out but scored Cereceres to put the Aztecs within one-run, but Kruk popped out to shortstop to end the game.
Lorta hit RBI doubles in the 2nd and 4th innings as he finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Glueck finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. MacDonald was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Thompson went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks. Figueroa-Brito finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run while Cereceres was 1-for-4 with two runs.
Bjur started the game and took the loss as he pitched two and two-third innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts.
SMCC 0 3 6 1 3 0 0 13 13 2
PCC 0 1 0 2 1 6 2 12 14 2
L – Bjur (1-2). 2B: Lorta 2, Vidal. SB: MacDonald.
Game 2: (5) South Mountain Cougars 14, Pima Aztecs 9: The Aztecs took an early lead, but the Cougars rallied in the 3rd inning. Pima produced a rally to tie the game, but South Mountain scored the final five runs of the game.
The Aztecs scored four runs in the 2nd inning. Sophomore Mike Jones (Canyon del Oro HS) hit an RBI single to score MacDonald and later scored on a passed ball. Sophomore Ramon Martinez contributed with an RBI single to drive in Thompson as Glueck capped off the inning with an RBI single to score Martinez to make it 4-0.
The Cougars scored six runs in the 3rd and three in the 4th inning to take a 9-4 advantage.
The Aztecs stormed back with five runs in the 5th inning. Sophomore Max Leyva (Tucson Magnet HS) drove a two-run double to score Lorta and freshman Aciel Guillen (Salpointe Catholic HS). Jones hit another RBI single to plate Leyva. Kruk tied the game at 9-9 with his two-run homer to right field, scoring Jones.
The Aztecs managed just three hits after the 5th inning as the Cougars scored three runs in the 6th inning and two in the 8th to take the lead for good.
Jones closed out the game, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Leyva was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run while Kruk went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Glueck was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Lorta finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Hall took the loss in relief as he pitched one and two-third innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on two hits with two strikeouts.
SMCC 0 0 6 3 0 3 0 2 0 14 15 0
PCC 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 9 16 5
L – Hall (2-3). 2B: Guillen, Cereceres, Leyva, Martinez. HR: Kruk.
The Aztecs will play eight single games to close out the regular season. They will be back at the West Campus Aztec Field on Saturday when they host Mesa Community College. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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