Klunder homers but Aztecs baseball struggles continue in doubleheader loss to Arizona Western College
The Pima Community College baseball team (16-24, 8-22 in ACCAC) hit a wall again on Saturday as it dropped the doubleheader against Arizona Western College (32-12, 16-8).
The Aztecs have lost six straight and 14 of their last 16 games.
Game 1: Arizona Western College Matadors 5, Pima CC Aztecs 3 (7 innings): The Matadors took the lead for good with three runs in the 7th inning. The Aztecs held a one-run lead on three occasions.
Sophomore Logan Klunder put the Aztecs on the board in the 2nd inning with a leadoff solo home run. With the score tied at 1-1 in the 4th inning, freshman Michael Wong hit an RBI single to score Klunder, who had singled earlier in the inning.
The Matadors tied the game in the top of the 5th inning but the Aztecs responded right back. Sophomore Martin Garcia (Tucson HS) hit a leadoff single. Three batters later, sophomore Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS) drove him in with an RBI single to make it 3-2.
The Aztecs had Garcia and Mendez on base but Klunder flied out to end the game.
Klunder finished the game 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Mendez also went 2 for 4 with an RBI while Wong was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Freshman Adam Moraga (Sunnyside HS) took the loss (2-6) in a relief appearance going one and one-third innings giving up three runs (none earned) on two hits with three strikeouts. Wong threw five innings giving up two runs with three strikeouts and three walks.
AWC 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 5 7 0
PCC 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 9 4
Game 2: Arizona Western College Matadors 10, Pima CC Aztecs 4: The Matadors broke open a tie ballgame with five runs in the 6th inning and the Aztecs could not respond.
The Aztecs went up 2-0 in the 1st inning when Mendez and Wong each hit RBI singles. The Matadors took the lead with three runs in the 2nd inning.
Down 4-2 in the 4th inning, Wong led off with a single. He scored on freshman Matthew Hackman's (Empire HS) sacrifice-fly RBI. Freshman Fabian Ferreira (Tucson HS) tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single to plate sophomore Jesus Solis (Nogales HS), who had singled and stolen a base earlier in the inning.
Ferreira went 2 for 4 with an RBI while Mendez and Wong each finished 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Sophomore Kristian Samorano (Tucson HS) took the loss (0-2) in a relief appearance as he went one inning giving up three runs (three earned) on two hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
AWC 0 3 0 1 0 5 0 0 1 10 11 2
PCC 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 7 1
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus Baseball Field on Tuesday when they host a non-conference doubleheader against Arizona Christian University JV team. First pitch is at noon.