Kragel hits homer and drives in three, Drake's solid start helps Aztecs Baseball force deciding Game 3 in Region I Finals

The Pima Community College baseball team (45-15) got back on track on Friday in Game 2 of the Region I, Division I Finals.

• The No. 2 seeded Aztecs scored six runs in the first two innings and went on to tie the series after winning 8-2 over No. 4 South Mountain Community College (35-25).
• The Aztecs scored four runs in the 1^st inning. With the bases loaded and one out, sophomore David Shackelford drew a walk to score sophomore Nick Arias. Sophomore Brant Kragel and freshman Nolan Ganter hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 3-0 to score freshman Collin Senior and sophomore Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS) respectively. Sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS) capped off the inning with a sacrifice-fly RBI to bring in Shackelford.
• Pima tacked on two more runs in the 2^nd inning. They loaded the bases again as Kragel drew a walk to score Arias. Ganter made it 6-0 after he hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to plate Senior.
• Hennesy brought in Arias with his RBI single in the 6^th inning to make it 7-2.
• Kragel added some final insurance for the Aztecs with a lead-off home run to center field on an 2-0 count in the 7^th inning. He finished the game going 2 for 3 with three RBIs, a run scored and a walk.
• Ganter went 1 for 4 with two RBIs while Arias was 1 for 4 with three runs scored and a walk. Hennesy finished 2 for 2 with an RBI, a run and three walks and Senior went 2 for 3 with two runs and two walks.
• Sophomore J.T. Drake picked up the win after throwing seven innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks on 90 pitches.

SMCC   0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0   2   5   2
PCC      4 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 x   8   9   2

W – Drake (11-3). 2B: Hennesy. HR: Kragel.

The Aztecs and the Cougars play a deciding Game 3 on Saturday for the Region I, Division I Championship. First pitch is at noon.