Figueroa blasts grand-slam but Aztecs baseball drops two at Phoenix College

The Pima Community College baseball team's (18-30, 9-27 in ACCAC) struggles continued on Saturday as they dropped two games at No. 15 ranked Phoenix College (35-17, 19-13). The Aztecs have lost 11 of their last 12 games.

Sophomore Miguel Figueroa (Tucson HS) was a bright spot for the Aztecs on offense.

Game 1: (15) Phoenix College Bears 10, Pima CC Aztecs 9 (8 innings): The Aztecs rallied from a six-run deficit to tie the game but the Bears scored in extra innings to win it.

Down 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning, sophomore Shawn Bracamontes (Sunnyside HS) drove in a pair of runs with an RBI double. Sophomores Erick Migueles (Canyon del Oro HS) and Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) scored on the play. Pinch-runner Jesus Solis (Nogales HS) scored on a groundout RBI. Freshman Kyle Rivera (Tucson HS) cut it to 6-4 after an RBI single that scored Bracamontes.

The Bears scored three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 9-4 but the Aztecs came right back in the fifth with four more runs. Figueroa hit a grand-slam with one out to make it 9-8. Migueles drew a walk while Ramirez and freshman Austin Treadwell hit back-to-back singles to load the bases.

Oscar Larranaga (Sunnyside HS) tied the game in the seventh inning with an RBI single that scored freshman Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS).

Figueroa finished the game 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a run scored while Bracamontes went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Rivera was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Migueles and Ramirez each scored two runs.

Sophomore Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) took the loss (3-3) in a relief appearance as he threw the final one and two-third innings giving up one run (one earned) on two hits with four strikeouts.

Game 2: (15) Phoenix College Bears 4, Pima CC Aztecs 1 (7 innings): The Aztecs managed five hits in the second game as they fell behind early. The Bears scored two runs in each the first and third innings.

Ramirez hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Larranaga in the sixth inning for Pima's sole run. Ramirez went 2 for 2 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Larranaga was 1 for 3 with a run scored while Bracamontes and sophomore Anthony Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) each finished 1 for 3.

Freshman Gage O'Brien (Catalina Foothills HS) started and took the loss (1-5) as he pitched five innings giving up four runs (four earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

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