Aztecs baseball earn split at Scottsdale CC
The Pima Community College baseball team (15-17, 6-14 in ACCAC) responded after dropping the first game on Tuesday in an ACCAC doubleheader at Scottsdale Community College (21-13, 9-9).
Sophomore Manny Ramirez had another great day at the plate as he finished 5 for 6 with four RBIs while fellow sophomore Oscar Larranaga (Sunnyside HS) was stellar going 5 for 9 with four runs scored. Freshman Jose Contreras (Tucson HS) picked up the win on the mound.
Game 1: Scottsdale CC Artichokes 6, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (7 innings): The Artichokes took a 3-0 lead after the third inning but widened their lead with three runs in the fifth.
The Aztecs got on the board in the fourth inning when Ramirez hit an RBI single to score Larranaga, who reached base on an error earlier in the inning. Freshman Martin Garcia (Tucson HS) hit an RBI single in the seventh inning to plate freshman Marcus Mendez (Desert View HS). He hit a double to lead-off the inning but the Aztecs rally was cut short as they left a runner on base to end the game.
Ramirez finished the game 2 for 2 with an RBI and a walk. Mendez went 2 for 3 with a run scored while Larranaga was 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Sophomore Miguel Figueroa (Tucson HS) took the loss (2-4) as he pitched four and one-third innings giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore Andres Hackman (Empire HS) threw the final one and two-third innings with one hit and three strikeouts.
Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 8, Scottsdale CC Artichokes: 4: Ramirez came through again as the Aztecs scored three runs in the first inning and tacked on four more runs in the fourth. They added one more in the sixth.
Ramirez hit an RBI single and Garcia followed with a two-run RBI single to put the Aztecs ahead 3-0.
The Aztecs loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning and sophomore Erick Migueles (Canyon del Oro HS) drew a bases loaded walk. Ramirez hit a sacrifice-fly RBI and freshman Logan Klunder capped off the inning with an RBI single to score Migueles and make it 7-1.
In the sixth inning, Larranaga led off with a triple and scored a few batters later when Ramirez hit another RBI single.
Ramirez finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs while Larranaga went 4 for 5 with three runs scored. Garcia was 1 for 3 with an RBI as Migueles went 1 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Contreras threw seven innings giving up four runs (four earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. He picked up the win and is now 4-1. Sophomore Ernesto Romero (Salpointe Catholic HS) earned his third save of the season after he closed out the final two innings giving up one hit with two strikeouts.
The Aztecs will host a scrimmage against the Toros de Tijuana on Thursday at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. The single game will be at 11:00 a.m.
