Felix and Cruz Hit Homers as Baseball Earns Split at Phoenix College
The Pima Community College baseball team (13-4, 4-4 in ACCAC) had its fourth straight ACCAC conference split of the season on Tuesday at Phoenix College (3-10, 3-5).
Freshman Anthony Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) and sophomore Al Cruz (Nogales HS) came through on offense in the second game as the Aztecs' bats went silent in the first game.
Game 1: Phoenix College Bears 3, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (8 innings)
The Aztecs took a 2-0 lead after the top of the 5th inning but lost on a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning. The Aztecs were hitless for the game but drew five walks.
Freshman Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) and Cruz drew walks to get on base in the 5th inning. Sophomore Jacob Northrup (Sahuaro HS) reach on an error as Ramirez scored. Sophomore David Oropeza (Nogales HS) had a sacrifice-RBI to plate Cruz to make it 2-0. The Bears scored one in the 5th and a run in the 6th inning to make it 2-2.
Freshman Trevelle Hill (Tucson Magnet HS) took the loss (2-2) as he pitched seven and one-third innings giving up three runs (three earned) on 11 hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 8, Phoenix College Bears 6 (7 innings)
Felix and Cruz each jacked home runs and Andres Hackman remained undefeated on the mound as Pima took the second game.
The Aztecs scored five runs in the 3rd inning as sophomores Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) and Francisco Rodriguez (Tucson Magnet HS) each hit RBI singles while Felix smacked a three-run home run.
In the 7th inning, the Aztecs led 6-4 but Cruz hit a two-run homer to score sophomore Marcus Catalano (Salpointe Catholic HS) to make it 8-4. The Bears' rally fell short as they scored two runs in the 7th.
Felix went 1 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Cruz was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Myles Moran finished 2 for 3 with a run scored. Pima had eight hits for the game.
Hackman improved to 4-0 on the mound as he went six innings giving up four runs (four earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Sophomore Daniel Tolano (Cholla HS) picked up the save as he pitched one inning giving up two runs (two earned) on two hits with one strikeout and two walks.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Saturday when they host Paradise Valley Community College in an ACCAC doubleheader. The games are at noon and 2:30 p.m.
Al Cruz/Photo by Ben Carbajal
