Catalano has 5 RBIs as baseball splits at Scottsdale

The Pima Community College baseball team (17-13, 11-9 in ACCAC) dominated the first game but came up short in the second on Tuesday at Scottsdale Community College.

The bright spot on offense was Marcus Catalano (Salpointe Catholic HS), who he went 3 for 8 with five RBIs and a run scored for the day. Roy Aguirre (Douglas HS) and Chris Kucko (Sahuarita HS) produced a pair of quality outings on the mound.

Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 9, Scottsdale CC Artichokes 1 (7 innings)

The Aztecs produced six runs in the 5^th inning as they took the first game 9-1. Catalano hit a three-run home run as part of the 5^th inning. Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) and Jaquese Moore (Marcos de Niza HS) each hit RBI singles and Trey Stine (Ironwood Ridge HS) had a sacrifice-fly RBI. The Aztecs helped their own cause in the 6^th as Estrella hit a two-run RBI single and Stine hit another sac-fly RBI.

Catalano and Estrella were each 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Stine was 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Moore finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Aguirre (4-1) pitched a complete-game giving up one run (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and four walks on 102 pitches.

Game 2: Scottsdale CC Artichokes 3, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (9 innings)

The Aztecs' rally in the 6^th inning was cut short as Pima lost 3-2 in the second game. Down 3-0 in the inning, Catalano hit a two-run RBI single to plate Devin Harrison (Ironwood Ridge HS) and Estrella. Al Cruz (Nogales HS) grounded out to end the threat. The Aztecs outhit Scottsdale in the game 8-6. Catalano was 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Harrison was 1 for 5 and Estrella was 1 for 4.

Kucko (3-4) pitched a complete-game giving up three runs (three earned) on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks on 108 pitches.

The Aztecs will play a single game against Madison Area Technical College (WI) on Friday at the West Campus. The game will be at 3:00 p.m.