Pima College’s media-relations department contributed to this report
The Pima College baseball team picked up its 30th win of the season while extending its winning streak to 12 games Tuesday in an ACCAC doubleheader sweep against visiting Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
The No. 20 ranked Aztecs (30-8, 17-5 in ACCAC) have produced a double-digit winning streak in four straight seasons under coach Ken Jacome.
Sophomore Andrew Stucky (Canyon del Oro grad) finished the day going 3 for 4 with an RBI, two runs and three doubles. Sophomore Wyatt Hardy got the win in a relief appearance and sophomore Matt Cornelius picked up the win in the second game. Freshman closer JT Drake snagged another two saves to his national-leading total.
Game 1: Pima 5, Chandler-Gilbert 2: The Aztecs rallied to tie the game in the fifth inning and took the lead for good with three runs in the sixth.
Down 2-1 in the fifth inning with two outs, Stucky came through to tie the game with an RBI double to score sophomore Luis Garcia (Salpointe Catholic), who had singled to reach base.
The Aztecs loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Sophomore Joey Adge was hit by a pitch, which brought in sophomore Braedon Mondeau (Cienega). Garcia followed with a two-run single to drive in sophomore Rocco Gump and pinch runner Elijah Reeves (Marana).
Stucky finished the game 2 for 3 with an RBI and two doubles. Garcia went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run. Gump was 2 for 3 with a run. Faildo hit an RBI single in the first inning and finished 1 for 3 with an RBI. Adge was 1 for 2 with an RBI.
Hardy picked up the win (2-0) in relief as he got the final two outs of the inning on four pitches. Sophomore Jaeden Swanberg (Salpointe Catholic) didn’t get a decision as he pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Drake got his first save of the day, after he pitched the seventh inning getting one strikeout.
Game 2: (20) Pima 4, Chandler-Gilbert 3: The Aztecs produced enough offense and got two home runs as they held off a Chandler-Gilbert rally to complete the sweep.
Freshman Benji Cazares (Tucson High) put the Aztecs on the board with an RBI single in the first inning to score Stucky, who had doubled two batters previous.
Freshman David Shackelford added to Pima’s lead at 2-0 with a solo home run to center field in the second inning.
Cazares reached on an error and Mondeau singled to open the fourth inning. Freshman Ruben Castro (Tucson High) hit a sacrifice-bunt to move the runners. Gump grounded out but scored Cazares to make it 3-0.
The Coyotes scored two runs in the sixth inning but the Aztecs countered in the bottom half of the inning with Mondeau’s solo home run to make it 4-2.
The Coyotes scored one in the eighth inning but Drake came back out on the hill in the ninth and got three straight flyouts on four pitches to close the game.
Stucky finished 1 for 1 with a run and two walks while Mondeau was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run. Shackelford went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run and Cazares closed out the game going 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run. Gump was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Cornelius got the win (8-1) as he pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (three earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Drake picked up his 10th save of the season and leads the NJCAA.
The Aztecs will play at Scottsdale on Saturday in an ACCAC doubleheader. First game starts at noon.
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