Aztecs baseball steals first game, splits after extra innings at No. 8 ranked Mesa CC
The Pima Community College baseball team (18-26, 9-23 in ACCAC) shocked No. 8 ranked Mesa Community College (35-13, 20-12) in the first game of the ACCAC conference doubleheader and fought through extra innings in the second game.
Sophomore Anthony Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) finished the day 4 for 7 while fellow sophomore Erick Migueles (Canyon del Oro HS) hit his eighth home run of the year.
Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 3, (8) Mesa CC Thunderbirds 2 (7 innings): The Aztecs took the lead in the second inning with two runs. Felix hit an RBI single to bring in sophomore Shawn Bracamontes (Sunnyside HS), who had singled to get on base with one out. Freshman Martin Garcia (Tucson HS) hit into a fielder's choice to reach base and scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
The Aztecs led 2-1 heading into the seventh inning and with one out, Migueles blasted a solo home run to right field to give the Aztecs a cushion.
In the bottom half of the seventh, sophomore pitcher Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) gave up a run but got a groundout with bases loaded to end the game.
Felix finished the game 2 for 3 with an RBI while Migueles went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Bracamontes also finished 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Freshman Jose Contreras (Tucson HS) pitched a gem and picked up the win (5-2) as he threw six and one-third innings giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Romero earned his fifth save of the season pitching the final two-thirds of the seventh giving up two hits with one strikeout.
Game 2: Mesa CC Thunderbirds 4, Pima CC Aztecs 3 (11 innings): The Aztecs rallied back to tie the game but the Thunderbirds scored the game-winning run on a passed ball in the 11th inning with two outs.
Down 3-0 in the seventh inning, Bracamontes singled with two outs and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Freshman Marcus Mendez followed with an RBI single to bring him in. In the eighth inning, Felix led off with a double and Migueles followed with an RBI double to plate him and make it 3-2. Migueles tied the game after scoring on a wild pitch.
Felix went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Migueles was 1 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored while Bracamontes finished 2 for 5 with a run scored. Mendez was 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Romero suffered his first loss of the season (3-1) after he pitched the final three and one-third innings giving up one run (none earned) on two hits with four strikeouts.
Freshman Gage O'Brien started the game and threw three and two-third innings giving up one run (one earned) on two hits with four strikeouts and six walks. Sophomore Trevelle Hill (Tucson HS) pitched in relief as he also went three and two-thirds giving up two runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts.
The Aztecs will play their final regular season home doubleheader on Tuesday when they host Paradise Valley Community College at the West Campus. The games will be at noon and 2:30 p.m. The Aztecs close out the season with three straight doubleheaders on the road.
