Freshman Karl Koerper hit a game-tying RBI single to score Matthew Hackman but the Aztecs fell in extra innings 6-5 to Yavapai College in the first game. The Aztecs responded in the second game with a 2-1 victory. The Aztecs are now 16-9 overall and 7-6 in ACCAC conference play. Photo by Ben Carbajal
Freshman Karl Koerper hit a game-tying RBI single to score Matthew Hackman but the Aztecs fell in extra innings 6-5 to Yavapai College in the first game. The Aztecs responded in the second game with a 2-1 victory. The Aztecs are now 16-9 overall and 7-6 in ACCAC conference play. Photo by Ben Carbajal

(UPDATED) Aztecs baseball earns split against Yavapai College

The Pima Community College baseball team (16-9, 7-6 in ACCAC) hosted Yavapai College (14-7, 6-5) on Saturday in an ACCAC Division I doubleheader.
Sophomore Rafael Padilla (Nogales HS) finished the day 4 for 5 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks.

  • Game 1: Yavapai College Roughriders 6, Pima CC Aztecs 5 (8 innings): The Aztecs rallied with three runs to tie it in the 7th but fell in the extra frame.
    Trailing 5-2, and down to their final out, sophomore Phillip Sikes hit a triple that was followed by an RBI single from fellow sophomore Padilla. Sophomore Javier Nava was hit by a pitch and sophomore Garett Lake hit an RBI single to plate Padilla. Freshman Karl Koerper followed with a game-tying RBI single to score pinch runner Matthew Hackman (Empire HS) and make it 5-5 but Lake was called out at third base to end the threat.
    Freshman Cole Cummings scored on a wild pitch in the 3rd inning to put the Aztecs on the scoreboard. Sophomore Enrique Porchas (Kofa HS) hit an RBI single in the 4th inning to cut Pima's deficit to 4-2.
    The Aztecs stranded two runners in the 8th inning and finished the game with 10 total left on base.
    Padilla finished the game 2 for 2 with an RBI, a run scored and two walks. Porchas was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Lake finished 1 for 2 with an RBI while Sikes went 2 for 5 with a run scored.
    Sophomore Adam Moraga (Sunnyside HS) pitched in relief and took the loss (3-2) as he threw one inning with two strikeouts and one walk. Sophomore Hayden Udall (Campo Verde HS) pitched seven innings giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits with one strikeout and three walks.

YAV     2 0 2 0 0 0 1 1   6  8  2
PCC     0 0 1 1 0 0 3 0    5 10 4

  • Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 2, Yavapai College Roughriders 1 (5 innings): Lake came up with two big hits with the bases loaded and sophomore Austin Bryan (Sahuarita HS) was on his game.
    Lake hit an RBI single with no outs as he drove in Padilla to put the Aztecs on the board in the 2nd inning. He put Pima up 2-0 when he hit another bases loaded RBI single with two outs in the 3rd inning to plate Sikes.
    Lake was 2 for 2 with two RBIs while Padilla finished 2 for 3 with a run scored. Sikes went 1 for 3 with a run.
    Bryan improved to 5-0 on the mound as he pitched five innings giving up one run (one earned) on one hit with five strikeouts and three walks.

YAV     0 0 0 1 0   1 1 0
PCC      0 1 1 0 0   2 7 1

The Aztecs are off until Saturday when they host a non-conference doubleheader against Western Oklahoma State College at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium. First game starts at noon.