Porchas and pitching starts highlight Aztecs baseball in split against New Mexico Military Institute

The Pima Community College baseball team (1-1) opened the 2018 season on Friday by hosting a non-conference doubleheader against the New Mexico Military Institute.

The Aztecs earned a split with the Broncos as they got good outings from their starting pitchers and the offense picked up when it was needed most in the second game.

Game 1: New Mexico Military Institute Broncos 2, Pima CC Aztecs 0 (8 innings): The Aztecs managed just one hit for the game as the Broncos broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the eighth.

Sophomore Kristian Samorano (Tucson HS) took the loss (0-1) as he pitched two-thirds of an inning giving up two runs (none earned) on two hits. Sophomore Jose Contreras (Tucson HS) started the game and through five shutout innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Freshman Rafael Padilla (Nogales HS) hit a leadoff double in the second inning but was stranded at third to end the inning. He was 1 for 3 for the game. Sophomore Logan Klunder drew two walks.

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 4, New Mexico Military Institute Broncos 3 (7 innings): Freshman Enrique Porchas (Kofa HS) hit a walk-off RBI single to score sophomore Jesus Solis (Nogales HS) in the bottom of the seventh inning to win it for the Aztecs. Solis hit a leadoff double to set up Porchas' at-bat.

Porchas hit a double and scored in the first inning off of Logan Klunder's RBI single to put the Aztecs ahead 1-0. The Broncos scored three runs in the sixth inning to take the lead but the Aztecs tied it up in the bottom half of the inning.

Freshman Matthew Hackman (Empire HS) hit a two-run RBI single with the bases loaded to score Padilla and Klunder and make it 3-3.

Hackman was 1 for 1 with two RBIs while Porchas finished 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run scored, a double and a walk. Klunder went 1 for 2 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.

Freshman Thomas Garcia (Salpointe Cathlic HS) got the win (1-0) in a relief appearance. He pitched two innings giving up no runs with two strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Michael Wong threw a solid game going five innings giving up two runs with five strikeouts and two walks.

The Aztecs host the Broncos for two more games tomorrow at the West Campus Baseball Field. The first game starts at 11:00 a.m.