Estrella and Moore each have 2 RBIs as baseball splits against GateWay

The Pima Community College baseball team (11-9, 9-7 in ACCAC) responded to win the second game of its doubleheader against GateWay Community College on Tuesday at the West Campus.

Jaquese Moore(Marcos de Niza HS) had a great day at the plate as he finished 5 for 7 on the day.

Game 1: GateWay CC Geckos 6, Pima CC Aztecs 3 (7 innings)

The Aztecs put a runner on base in six of the seven innings but could not overtake the lead as they fell 6-3 in the first game against GateWay. Down 4-0 after the top of the 1^st, the Aztecs cut the lead in half when Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) hit a two-run RBI triple to score Devin Harrison (Ironwood Ridge HS) and Trey Stine (Ironwood Ridge HS) to make it 4-2. The Aztecs loaded the bases in the 2^nd inning with one out. Brandon Burke (Canyon del Oro HS) drew a walk to score Ruben Bracamontes (Sunnyside HS) to make it 4-3. Stine struck out and Al Cruz (Nogales HS) grounded out to end the inning. The Aztecs loaded the bases again in the 4^th inning but Cruz hit into a double play to end the threat.

Estrella finished the game 2 for 3 with two RBIs while Harrison went 1 for 1 with a run scored and a walk. Moore was 2 for 3 and Stine finished 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Roy Aguirre (Douglas HS) suffered his first loss of the season (4-1) as he pitched four and one-third innings giving up six runs (five earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and seven walks.

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 7, GateWay CC Geckos 6 (9 innings)

The Aztecs held off a 9^th inning rally to beat GateWay 7-6 in the second game. Up 4-3 in the 8^th inning, the Aztecs scored three runs as Moore and Daniel Peters (Sabino HS) each had RBI singles. GateWay scored three runs in the bottom of the 9^th. Justin Hammergren (Sahuaro HS) came in for relief and struck out the final batter to end the game.

Moore put the Aztecs ahead in the 2^nd inning when he hit an RBI single to score Trevor Johnson. Moore finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Johnson was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Despite being 0 for 2, Burke scored two runs, had an RBI and a walk.

Chris Kucko (Sahuarita HS) picked up the win (2-3) after he pitched six innings giving up three runs (three earned) on nine hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Hammergren picked up the save.

The Aztecs will be on the road on Saturday when they play at Yavapai College in Prescott in a conference doubleheader. The games will be at noon and 2:30 p.m.