Aztecs Baseball struggles on offense at Phoenix College

The Pima Community College baseball team (28-14, 15-11 in ACCAC) dropped a pair of close games on Tuesday at Phoenix College (24-15, 13-13).
The Aztecs finished the day scoring four runs on 10 hits.

• Game 1: Phoenix College Bears 4, Pima CC Aztecs 2: The Aztecs tied the game in the 6^th inning but the Bears scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for good.
  The Aztecs took a 1-0 lead in the 1^st inning when sophomore Romeo Ballesteros (Salpointe Catholic HS) scored on a passed ball. The Aztecs stranded two runners on base to end to the inning.
  The Bears tied the game in the bottom of the 1^st and took the lead in the 3^rd.
  Freshman Trent Kiraly tied the game at 2-2 in the 6^th inning with a solo home run to left field with one out.
  Kiraly finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run while Ballesteros went 1 for 3 with a run scored. Freshman Braedon Mondeau (Cienega HS) and sophomore Emilio Corona each were 1 for 2 with a walk.
  Sophomore Jaren Jackson took the loss as he pitched five and one-third innings giving up three runs (three earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

PCC   1 0 0 0 0 1 0   2  4  1
PC     1 0 1 0 0 2 x   4  8  0

L – Jackson (5-3). HR – Kiraly. SB – Ballesteros, Corona.

• Game 2: Phoenix College Bears 5, Pima CC Aztecs 2 (10 innings): The Aztecs took the lead in the top of the 9^th but the Bears tied in the bottom half of the inning. Phoenix College hit a walk off 3-run homer in the 10^th.
  Down 1-0 in the 9^th, freshman Hunter Faildo hit a leadoff single. Pinch runner Kaden Stremick came in and advanced to third after a sacrifice-bunt and a flyout. After sophomore Preston Clifford (Sabino HS) reached base on a walk, Corona came through with a 2-run RBI double to give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead.
  The Aztecs were hitless for five innings until sophomore Alec Acevedo (Nogales HS) led off the 6^th inning with a single. Ballesteros hit a triple in the 7^th but was out between third and home plate on a fielder's choice play. Kiraly hit a leadoff double in the 10^th and pinch runner Andrew Maxwell advanced to third base on a balk but the Aztecs record three straight outs to end it.
  Corona finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs while Acevedo was 1 for 2. Sophomore Fernando Loera and Kiraly each finished 1 for 4.
  Sophomore Wilson Bannister took the loss as he pitched two-thirds of inning giving up two runs (two earned) on two walks.. Sophomore Bradon Zastrow started the game and pitched six and two-third innings giving up one run (one earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

PCC   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0   2  6  1
PC      0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3   5  9  0

L – Bannister (2-1). 2B – Kiraly, Corona. 3B – Ballesteros.

The Aztecs face a tough test on Saturday as they go up against No. 1 ranked Central Arizona College in an ACCAC doubleheader at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field. First game starts at noon.