Aztecs baseball earn split against GateWay CC

The Pima Community College baseball team (10-4, 2-2 in ACCAC) earned its second straight split in ACCAC conference play on Tuesday as the Aztecs hosted GateWay Community College (5-7, 2-2) at the West Campus Baseball Field.

Freshman Rafael Padilla (Nogales HS) finished the day 4 for 7 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Fellow freshman Enrique Porchas (Kofa HS) went 3 for 7 with two runs scored.

Game 1: GateWay CC Geckos 6, Pima CC Aztecs 3 (7 innings): The Aztecs could not close out the Geckos as they scored four runs in the top of the 7^th inning to take control.

Freshman Javier Nava put the Aztecs up 3-2 when he hit a two-run RBI single to score Padilla and pinch runner Sergio Gonzalez (Nogales HS) in the 6^th inning.

Padilla put the Aztecs on the board in the 4^th inning with an RBI triple to score Porchas, who led off the inning with a walk. The Aztecs trailed 2-1 at that point.

Padilla finished 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run scored and a triple while Porchas went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a triple. Nava was 1 for 2 with two RBIs.

Sophomore Christian Pearcy (Ironwood Ridge HS) took the loss (1-1). Freshman Adam Moraga (Sunnyside HS) started the game and threw six innings giving up two runs (two earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

GWCC     0 2 0 0 0 0 4   6 8 1
PCC         0 0 0 1 0 2 0   3 5 0

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 6, GateWay CC Geckos 3: The Aztecs posted three runs in the 1^st inning and held off a GateWay rally.

Sophomore Logan Klunder hit an RBI single to score Porchas which was followed by freshman Michael Wong's RBI double to plate Padilla to give the Aztecs a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Juan Durazo (Salpointe Catholic HS) capped off the inning with an RBI single to score Wong.

Padilla hit an RBI single in the 7^th inning and had a groundout RBI in the 2^nd inning to finish 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Wong had another RBI hit in the 5^th inning as he finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Klunder finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored while Porchas went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Freshman Matthew Hackman (Empire HS) was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk.

Freshman Ryon Craig (Cienega HS) picked up the win (3-0) in relief as he pitched three and two-third innings giving up one run (none earned) on two hits with one strikeout and three walks. Sophomore Jonathan Deeble (Sahuaro HS) earned his first save of the season after he struck out the side in the 9^th inning.

Sophomore Troy Gutbub (Catalina Foothills HS) started the game and pitched four innings giving up two runs (two earned) on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

GWCC    1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0   3  5  0
PCC        3 1  0 0 1 0 1 0 x  6 11 2

The Aztecs will hit the road on Saturday to play an ACCAC conference doubleheader at Mesa Community College on Saturday. The first game will start at 12:00 p.m.