Aztecs Baseball Drops Two Games Against Glendale CC
The Pima Community College baseball team (29-25, 16-22 in ACCAC) dropped a tough ACCAC doubleheader at the West Campus on Tuesday to Glendale Community College (22-31, 15-23).
After a one-sided first game, the Aztecs found themselves in a back-and-forth battle as the second game was decided in extra innings.
The Aztecs came into the day with a two game lead for the No. 4 seed in the Region I, Division II tournament. Paradise Valley Community College trailed the Aztecs by one game and Glendale trailed by three games. Paradise Valley plays Chandler-Gilbert tonight and tomorrow afternoon.
Game 1: Glendale CC Gauchos 13, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (5 innings)
The Aztecs surrendered four runs in the first inning and the Gauchos tacked on eight runs in the fifth. The Aztecs scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but lost on a mercy-rule.
Sophomore Marcus Catalano (Salpointe Catholic HS) drew a leadoff walk and scored on freshman Anthony Felix's (Canyon del Oro HS) sacrifice-fly RBI. Sophomore Hunter Green (Sahuaro HS) hit an RBI single to drive in fellow sophomore Ryan Ramsower (Salpointe Catholic HS).
Green finished the game 2 for 3 with an RBI while Ramsower went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Sophomore Ivan Estrella (Tucson Magnet HS) also finished 2 for 3.
Sophomore pitcher Daniel Tolano (Cholla HS) took the loss as he pitched five innings giving up 13 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Game 2: Glendale CC Gauchos 9, Pima CC Aztecs 8 (12 innings)
The Aztecs and Gauchos went toe-to-toe in extra innings but Glendale scored a run in the top of the 12th and the Aztecs couldn't respond in the bottom half of the inning.
Glendale took a 5-4 lead in the ninth but Estrella tied the game with an RBI single to score pinch runner Adrian Lucero.
In the 11th inning the Gauchos took an 8-5 lead. In the bottom half of the 11th with one out, the Aztecs hit three straight singles to load the bases. Ramsower hit a fielder's choice that scored one run. Freshman Manny Ramirez (Bisbee HS) followed with an RBI single to score Estrella. Sophomore Frankie Ortiz (Ironwood Ridge HS) tied the game at 8-8 with his RBI single that plated Ramsower.
Estrella finished the game 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs while Felix was 5 for 6 with a run scored. Sophomore Francisco Rodriguez (Tucson Magnet HS) went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored and freshman Myles Moran finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a walk.
Sophomore Xander Carrillo (Tucson Magnet HS) took the loss (2-2) as he pitched one inning giving up one run (one earned) on two hits. Freshman Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) started the game and threw five and two-third innings giving up three runs (three earned) on four hits with three strikeouts.
The Aztecs will close out the regular season on Saturday at the West Campus. They'll host Chandler-Gilbert Community College in an ACCAC doubleheader at noon and 2:30 p.m.
Frankie Ortiz/Photo by Ben Carbajal
