Aztecs Baseball Responds in Second Game to Earn Split with GateWay

The Pima Community College baseball team (11-2, 2-2 in ACCAC) took control in the second game of its ACCAC doubleheader on Tuesday against GateWay Community College (8-4, 3-1).

Sophomore Francisco Rodriguez Tucson Magnet HS) and Marcus Catalano (Salpointe Catholic HS) came up big for the Aztecs while freshmen pitcher Trevelle Hill (Tucson Magnet HS) and Andres Hackman (Empire HS) did their part on the mound.

Game 1: GateWay CC Geckos 3, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (7 innings)

The Aztecs took the lead but couldn't hold on in the first game. Down 1-0 in the 2^nd inning, Catalano reached on an error and advanced to second base. Rodriguez followed with an RBI double to score him and tie the game. The Aztecs hit three straight groundouts to end the inning.

Sophomore Jacob Northrup (Sahuaro HS) hit a leadoff single in the 3^rd inning and pinch runner Adrian Lucero scored on a passed ball to put the Aztecs ahead 2-1. The Geckos came back with a two-run RBI double in the 4^th inning to take the lead for good.

Rodriguez finished 2 for 3 with an RBI while Catalano was 0 for 3 with a run scored. The Aztecs had five hits for the game.

Hill took the loss (2-1) after he pitched a complete game giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks on 103 pitches.

GWCC   0  1  0  2  0  0  0    3  8  1
PCC       0  1  1  0   0  0  0    2  5  3

The Aztecs' offense went off for nine runs in the 5^th inning as they earned a run rule victory in the second game.

In the 5^th inning, freshman Hunter Green (Sahuaro HS) and Rodirugez each hit RBI doubles while freshman Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) hit an RBI single. Sophomore Al Cruz (Nogales HS) capped it off with a two-run homer.

Catalano cleared the bases in the 4^th inning when he hit a three-run RBI double that scored Green, and sophomores Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) and Ryan Ramsower (Salpointe Catholic HS) to make it 6-2.

Catalano finished the game 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored while Ramirez went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Cruz was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Rodriguez and Green each finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Hackman picked up the win (3-0) as he pitched seven innings giving up two runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk on 103 pitches.

The Aztecs will play at Mesa Community College on Saturday in an ACCAC doubleheader. The games will be at noon and 2:30 p.m.