Aztecs Baseball Rallies in Extra Innings to Earn Split at Central Arizona
The Pima Community College baseball team (25-17, 13-15 in ACCAC) avoided an ACCAC doubleheader sweep at Central Arizona College (36-6, 18-4) on Tuesday as the Aztecs rallied in the 11th inning of the second game.
Game 1: Central Arizona College Vaqueros 6, Pima CC Aztecs 1
The Aztecs managed four hits in the first game and surrendered five runs to the Vaqueros in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Aztecs scored their run in the top of the seventh inning when freshman Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) hit a solo home run with one out. Ramirez finished the game 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman Oscar Larranaga (Sunnyside HS) and sophomore Jacob Northrup (Sahuaro HS) each went 1 for 2.
Sophomore Daniel Tolano (Cholla HS) took the loss as he pitched five and one-third innings giving up six runs (six earned) on 12 hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 14, Central Arizona College Vaqueros 13 (11 innings)
The Aztecs took the lead for good with a run in the 11th inning. Pima posted a 10-run sixth inning but the Vaqueros came back to score three in the bottom of the sixth and six in the seventh inning to put the Aztecs in a 13-12 deficit.
Sophomore Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) tied the game in the top of the eighth with an RBI double that scored fellow sophomore David Oropeza (Nogales HS).
In the sixth inning, freshman Myles Moran hit a two-run RBI doubles and Larranaga contributed with a two-run RBI single. Freshman Anthony Felix (Canyon del Oro HS), sophomore Ryan Ramsower (Salpointe Catholic HS), sophomore Francisco Rodriguez (Tucson Magnet HS), Estrella all had RBI singles in the inning.
Rodriguez finished 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Moran went 2 for 7 with three RBIs and a run scored. Estrella was 2 for 5 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two walks and Felix went 3 for 6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Larranaga finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two walks.
Freshman Kristian Samorano (Tucson Magnet HS) picked up the win (1-0) in relief as he pitched the final two innings giving up one hit with five strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) got the start and threw five innings giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Saturday when they host Arizona Western College in an ACCAC doubleheader. The games will be at noon and 2:30 p.m.
Ivan Estrella/Photo by Ben Carbajal
