Nolan Ganter/Photo – Gilbert Alcaraz
(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (12-2, 2-2 in ACCAC) was back at the West Campus Aztec Field on Wednesday for an ACCAC conference doubleheader against Chandler-Gilbert Community College (6-6, 3-1).
Sophomore Caden Richards had a good day at the plate finishing 4 for 8 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Fellow sophomore Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) was also 4 for 8 with two
home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored. Freshman Zach Plasschaert was 4 for 7 with an RBI and four runs scored while freshman Leon Cereceres closed out the day 2 for 8 with four runs and two walks. Freshmen Brady Hall and Luis Pablo Navarro (Walden Grove HS) got the decisions on the mound.
Game 1: Chandler-Gilbert Coyotes 14, (23) Pima Aztecs 12
The Aztecs were forced to play catch-up, and the rally fell short in the end despite scoring four runs in the bottom of the 7th inning.
Ganter hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw to open the 7th inning to cut the deficit to 14-9. With two runners on and one out, freshman Matt MacDonald hit a two-run RBI triple to bring around freshman Jackson Glueck and Plasschaert. MacDonald scored after sophomore Andrew Grenert’s (Horizon HS) RBI single. A double-play ended the threat and the game.
Richards hit a three-run homer in the 4th inning to score Grenert and Cereceres to cut it to 10-7 and Plasschaert hit a solo home run in the 5th inning to make it 10-8.
Richards finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored while Ganter went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs. Glueck was 3 for 4 with two runs and Cereceres also scored two runs. MacDonald went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run while Plasschaert finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and two runs.
Hall took the loss in relief after he pitched one and two-third innings, giving up seven runs (seven earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
CGCC 1 2 4 3 0 1 3 14 17 1
PCC 3 0 1 3 1 0 4 12 12 1
L – Hall (0-1). 2B: Glueck, Ganter. 3B: MacDonald. HR: Richards, Ganter, Plasschaert. SB: Barta.
Game 2: (23) Pima Aztecs 9, Chandler-Gilbert Coyotes 6
The Aztecs rallied with seven runs in the 6th inning and held off a Coyotes’ rally to earn the split.
Ganter got it started once again with a leadoff home run to left field in the 6th inning to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Aztecs got three straight RBI singles from freshman Ernie Alvarez (Canyon del Oro HS), Grenert and freshman Mike Jones (Canyon del Oro HS). Richards hit an RBI double to drive in Jones to make it 6-3. Senior capped off the inning with a two-run RBI single to score Cereceres and Richards as the Aztecs went up 8-3
The Coytes scored three runs in the top of the 7th but Richards hit an RBI single in the 8th inning to get one of the runs back. The Coyotes scored no runs in the final two innings.
Richards closed out the game going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Ganter was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run. Alvarez hit an RBI single in the 2nd inning to put Pima on the scoreboard as he went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Plasschaert finished 3 for 4 with two runs. Cereceres also scored two runs as well. Senior was 2 for 5 with two RBIs Navarro picked up the win as he pitched six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks on 95 pitches. Sophomore Nate Gray (Queen Creek HS) picked up the save as he threw the final three innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits with one strikeout.
CGCC 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 6 9 1
PCC 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 1 x 9 16 2
W – Navarro (3-0). S – Gray (1). 2B: Plasschaert 2, Richards, Jones. HR: Ganter.
The Aztecs will return to the West Campus Aztec Field on Saturday when they host GateWay Community College in an ACCAC conference doubleheader. Games are at noon and 2:30 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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