Posted: Jan 28, 2025
Plasschaert's four RBIs and Valenzuela's 10 strikeouts spark Baseball's sweep over Eastern Arizona College
The Pima Community College baseball team (6-0) hosted a non-conference doubleheader against Eastern Arizona College (3-2) on Tuesday at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field.
- The No. 23 ranked Aztecs won both games as freshman Zach Plasschaert finished the day going 2 for 5 with four RBIs. Sophomore Collin Senior (Horizon HS) went 3 for 8 with an RBI and three runs scored while fellow sophomore Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) was 3 for 7 with an RBI and three runs. Freshmen Sal Valenzuela (Nogales HS) and Shawn Barros (Salpointe Catholic HS) picked up the wins on the mound.
- Game 1: (23) Pima CC Aztecs 6, Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters 1: The Aztecs scored in the first four innings while Valenzuela and freshman Cam Grenert (Horizon HS) held the Gila Monster offense in check.
Plasschaert hit a two-run RBI single in the 1st inning to score Senior and Ganter. The Aztecs went up 4-1 in the 2nd inning as sophomore Caden Richards and Senior scored on errors.
Richards drew a bases loaded walk in the 3rd inning to drive in Jackson Glueck and Plasschaert hit a sacrifice-fly RBI in the 4th inning to score freshman Sean Barta.
Plasschaert finished the game 1 for 3 with three RBIs while Glueck was 2 for 2 with a run. Senior went 2 for 4 with two runs and Ganter closed it out going 1 for 3 with a run.
Valenzuela picked up the win (1-0) as he pitched four and one-third innings, giving up one run (one earned) on three hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks on 85 pitches. Freshman Cam Grenert closed out the final two and two-third innings, giving up one hit with five strikeouts.
EAC 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 4
PCC 2 2 1 1 0 0 x 6 7 0
W – Valenzuela (1-0). 2B: Glueck.
- Game 2: (23) Pima CC Aztecs 13, Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters 5 (7 innings): Plasschaert capped off the day and sealed the sweep for the Aztecs with a walk-off RBI double in the 7th inning to bring in freshman Max Leyva (Tucson Magnet HS), who drew a walk with two outs.
The Aztecs scored nine runs between the first and fourth innings to take the lead. Trailing 2-0 after the top of the 1st, the Aztecs responded with three of their own. Freshman Quintin Hennesy (Horizon HS) drew a lead-off walk and scored on a fielder's choice. Ganter hit an RBI single to plate Senior, and freshman Ernie Alvarez (Canyon del Oro HS) hit an RBI single of his own to put Pima up 3-2 after Ganter scored the run.
After scoring two runs in the third inning, the Aztecs continued their momentum with another four runs in the 4th inning. Leyva drove an RBI single with the bases loaded to score Ganter. With one out, freshman Ramon Martinez hit a two-run RBI single to bring around Barta and Alvarez to make it 8-2. Hennesy brought in Leyva after his sacrifice-fly RBI made it 9-2.
Martinez hit an RBI single in the 3rd inning and was a flawless 4 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Alvarez went 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs. Hennesy finished the game 1 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. He hit an RBI triple in the 6th inning and scored on Richards' RBI hit in the following at-bat. Richards was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two walks in the game. Senior closed it out going 1 for 4 with an RBI and two runs and Ganter went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs. Barta hit an RBI single in the 5th inning and was 1 for 4 with an RBI, a run and a walk.
Barros picked up the win as he pitched four and two-third innings, giving up four runs (four earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Freshman Brady Hall threw the final two and one-third, giving up one run (one earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
EAC 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 5 8 2
PCC 3 0 2 4 1 2 1 13 17 0
W – Barros (1-0). 2B: Ganter, Plasschaert. 3B: Hennesy. SB: Hennesy, Martinez.
The Aztecs will host a four-game series against Colorado Northwestern Community College. All games will be at the West Campus Aztec Field. The first two games will be on Friday at noon and 2:30 p.m.
