Ernesto Romero/Photo by Ben Carbajal 2016
Ernesto Romero/Photo by Ben Carbajal 2016

Aztecs baseball rallies to earn a split against El Paso CC

The Pima Community College baseball team (4-1) earned a split at the West Campus on Friday against El Paso Community College (2-6).

The Aztecs dropped the first game but had a huge rally to win the second game.

Freshman Jared Kromminga (Empire HS) had a great day at the plate as he finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and three walks.

El Paso CC Tejanos 5, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (7 innings): The Aztecs scored two runs in the second inning while the Tejanos took the lead in the fifth at 3-2 and tacked on two more in the seventh inning.

Kromminga hit a RBI single that scored freshman Logan Klunder and pinch runner Jesus Solis (Nogales HS) to give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead.

The Aztecs managed just five hits for the game as Kromminga finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs while Klunder also finished 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Sophomore Trevelle Hill (Tucson HS) took the loss (1-1) as he started and threw four innings giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Isaac Lopez (Nogales HS) pitched in relief going one and two-third innings giving up two hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) pitched the final one and one-third innings giving up two runs (two earned) on three hits.

Pima CC Aztecs 14, El Paso CC Tejanos 8 (9 innings): The Aztecs trailed 8-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning but rallied to win it.

The Aztecs scored three runs in the third inning, two runs in the fourth and tied it up in the fifth inning. Sophomore Oscar Larranaga (Sunnyside HS) hit an RBI single and freshman Austin Treadwell scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 8-8. Treadwell put the Aztecs ahead for good with an RBI double in the seventh inning to plate freshman Martin Garcia (Tucson HS).

The Aztecs had six players with two RBIs. Sophomore Erick Migueles (Canyon del Oro HS) helped start the rally with an RBI triple in the third inning and contributed with an RBI double in the seventh as he went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS) hit a two-run RBI double in the eighth inning as he went 1 for 1 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Garcia finished 2 for 4 with four runs scored. Treadwell finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Kromminga was 1 for 1 with two runs scored and three walks. Felix was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored and Larranaga went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, a run scored and two walks.

The Aztecs got some help from their bullpen as freshman Jose Contreras (Tucson HS) picked up the win (1-0) after he threw four and two-third innings giving up no runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Troy Gutbub (Catalina Foothills HS) picked up the save as he pitched the final one and two-third innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

The Aztecs will host El Paso Community College on Saturday at the West Campus for another doubleheader. The first game will start at 11:00 a.m.