Rodriguez Shines as Baseball Sweeps El Paso CC
The Pima Community College baseball team (8-0) continued its early season success on Saturday with another doubleheader sweep against El Paso Community College (1-9).
Sophomore Francisco Rodriguez (Tucson Magnet HS) put on a show at the plate as he finished 5 for 7 with four RBIs and four runs scored. Sophomore Daniel Tolano (Cholla HS) and freshman Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) picked up the wins on the mound. The Aztecs scored another 15 runs and have 87 total in their first eight games.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 10, El Paso CC Tejanos 2 (7 innings)
The Aztecs took an early lead with four runs in the 1st inning and another three runs in the 3rd to lead 7-1.
Rodriguez had RBI doubles in the 3rd and 5th innings. He had RBI singles in the 1st and 6th innings as he finished 4 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Moran hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning and went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Sophomore Hunter Green (Sahuaro HS) was 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the 5th inning while sophomore Ryan Ramsower (Salpointe Catholic HS) was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Tolano (2-0) picked up the win after he pitched a complete game giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 5, El Paso CC Tejanos 4
Rodriguez made a good play at first base as he collected the ball off of a hop to end the game and halt a Tejanos rally.
The Aztecs scored four runs in the 5th inning to take a 5-1 lead. Sophomore Al Cruz (Nogales HS) and freshman Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) contributed with RBI singles in the inning. Sophomore Marcus Catalano (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit an RBI single in the 3rd to put Pima on the scoreboard.
Rodriguez went 1 for 3 with a run scored while Catalano finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Cruz was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored and Ramirez finished 1 for 2 with an RBI.
Romero (2-0) picked up the win after he started and threw five and one-third innings giving up three runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
The Aztecs will host the University of Arizona Club team on Tuesday at the West Campus. They will play a single game at 2:00 p.m.
Francisco Rodriguez/Photo by Ben Carbajal
