Larranaga's Game-Winning RBI Helps Aztecs Baseball Gain Split vs. Phoenix College
The Pima Community College baseball team (29-23, 16-20 in ACCAC) put together a ninth inning rally to close out its doubleheader against Phoenix College (19-32, 13-23) on Saturday at the West Campus.
The Aztecs played in its 14th ACCAC doubleheader split this season as they hold a tight grip on the final spot in the Region I, Division II tournament heading into the final week of the regular season.
Game 1: Phoenix College Bears 4, Pima CC Aztecs 3
The Aztecs surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh inning and went down in order in the bottom of the inning to drop the first game.
With one out in the seventh inning and up 3-1, relief pitcher Xander Carrillo (Tucson Magnet HS) gave up a two-run home run which tied it at 3-3. Freshman Jake Roberson came in and gave up a bases loaded walk to give the Bears the lead with two outs.
Trailing 1-0, the Aztecs responded in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Ryan Ramsower (Salpointe Catholic HS) tied the game with a sacrifice-fly RBI that scored fellow sophomore Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS). With two outs, sophomore Hunter Green (Sahuaro HS) hit an RBI double which was followed by freshman Manny Ramirez' (Bisbee HS) RBI single to plate Green and put the Aztecs up 3-1.
Green finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored while freshman Anthony Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) went 2 for 2 with a run scored. Ramirez was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Carrillo (2-1) took the loss as he pitched one inning giving up three runs (two earned) on one hit with two walks. Freshman Andres Hackman (Empire HS) started the game and pitched five and two-third innings giving up one run (one earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 11, Phoenix College Bears 10
Freshman Oscar Larranaga hit a deep ball to right field which scored pinch runner Max Whitehead to complete the ninth inning rally.
Down 10-8 in the bottom of the ninth, Estrella hit a lead-off single. With one out, Ramsower hit an infield single and sophomore Al Cruz (Nogales HS) reach on an error which scored Estrella. Green tied the game at 10-10 with an RBI double that scored Ramsower. Sophomore Marcus Catalano (Salpointe Catholic HS) was intentionally walked to set up Larranaga's heroics.
The Aztecs trailed 6-2 but scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Estrella, Felix and Ramsower hit three straight RBI doubles. Pima took the lead with three more runs in the seventh inning. Freshman Myles Moran hit an RBI single which was followed by a two-run RBI single by Estrella to put the Aztecs up 8-7. The Bears scored two in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Larranaga finished 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Estrella went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Ramsower finished 5 for 6 with an RBI and a run scored and Green went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Freshman Kristian Samorano (Tucson Magnet HS) picked up the win in relief (2-2) as he pitched the ninth inning with one strikeout and one walk. Freshman starter Miguel Figueroa (Tucson Magnet HS) pitched five and two-third innings giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Aztecs close out the regular season with two ACCAC doubleheaders at the West Campus. They'll host Glendale Community College on Tuesday with games at noon and 2:30 p.m.
Oscar Larranaga/Photo by Vanessa Borboa
