Felix and Catalano spark offense in Baseball's Split at Mesa CC

The Pima Community College baseball team (12-3, 3-3 in ACCAC) came away with an ACCAC doubleheader split at Mesa Community College on Saturday.

The Aztecs played in two very tight games as freshman pitcher Miguel Figueroa (Tucson Magnet HS) earned two decisions on the mound.

Game 1: Mesa CC Thunderbirds 4, Pima CC Aztecs 3 (7 innings)

The Aztecs tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh inning but the Thunderbirds came back and won the game in the bottom half of the inning.

Figueroa (0-1) took the loss as he pitched the 7^th inning. Sophomore pitcher Daniel Tolano (Cholla HS) started the game and went six innings giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Sophomore Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) went 1 for 4 with two RBIs while fellow sophomore Hunter Green (Sahuaro HS) was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Sophomore Al Cruz (Nogales HS) and freshman Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) each finished 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 9, Mesa CC Thunderbirds 6 (9 innings)

The Aztecs completed a rally with five runs in the 5^th inning and four runs in the 9^th. The Aztecs trailed 6-0 after the 4^th inning.

In the 9^th inning, freshman Anthony Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) tied the game at 6-6 with an infield RBI hit and was driven in by sophomore Marcus Catalano's (Salpointe Catholic HS) go-ahead RBI single.

Felix finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored while Catalano was 1 for 5. Sophomore Ryan Ramsower (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit a two-run homer to make it 6-5 in the 5^th inning. He went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Figueroa picked up the win (1-1) after he threw five shutout innings giving up five hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Freshman Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) started and pitched three and two-third innings giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Jake Roberson relived him in the 4^th and finished the inning giving up two runs (none earned) on two hits with one walk.

The Aztecs will be back on the road on Tuesday when they play at Phoenix College in an ACCAC doubleheader. The games will be at noon and 2:30 p.m.

Anthony Felix/Photo by Vanessa Borboa