Barta and Ganter spark offense as Aztecs Baseball splits with Phoenix College
The Pima Community College baseball team (31-9, 17-8 in ACCAC) played an ACCAC conference doubleheader against Phoenix College (14-22, 10-14) on Tuesday at the West Campus Aztec Field.
The No. 14 ranked Aztecs dropped the first game but bounced back to claim the second game. Freshman Sean Barta finished the day 4 for 8 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Ernie Alvarez (Canyon del Oro HS) closed out the day 3 for 4 with two runs. Freshman Ramon Martinez went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Luis Pablo Navarro (Walden Grove HS) took the loss in his start while freshman Cam Grenert (Horizon HS) picked up the win in a relief appearance.
- Game 1: Phoenix College Bears 4, (14) Pima CC Aztecs 2: The Aztecs managed just two runs off three hits as they fell in the first game.
The Aztecs tied the game at 1-1 in the 3rd inning when Martinez hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Alvarez, who led off the inning with a double and moved over to third base on a balk.
The Bears hit a two-run homer in the 4th inning to take the lead. The Aztecs responded with Barta, who hit a leadoff home run to center field to cut the deficit to 3-2. They couldn't get any closer as the Bears extended their lead with a run in the 6th inning.
Barta finished the game 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run while Alvarez was 2 for 2 with a run scored. Martinez was 0 for 1 with an RBI.
Navarro took the loss as he pitched four and two-third innings, giving up three runs (three earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks on 97 pitches.
PC 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 4 12 0
PCC 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 3 1
L – Navarro (6-2). 2B: Alvarez. HR: Barta. SB: Richards.
- Game 2: (14) Pima CC Aztecs 13, Phoenix College Bears 7: The Aztecs scored nine unanswered runs to take control in the second game.
The Aztecs rallied on three occasions during the game. Down 7-4 in the bottom of the 6th inning, the Aztecs scored three runs to tie it. Richards hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score to bring in freshman Max Leyva (Tucson Magnet HS). Sophomore Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) followed with a two-run RBI double to plate Martinez and Cereceres and tie the game at 7-7.
The offense took over in the 7th inning with six runs. With one out, the Aztecs loaded the bases. They took the lead for good when Barta scored on an error and scored from third base. Martinez hit an RBI single to drive in pinch runner Quintin Hennesy (Horizon HS). Alvarez hit a single to load the bases once again and Cereceres drew a walk to score sophomore Collin Senior (Horizon HS) to make it 10-7. Sophomore Caden Richards grounded-out, but scored Martinez to put the score at 11-7. Ganter capped off the inning with his second 2-run RBI hit bringing around Alvarez and Cereceres.
The Aztecs tied the game at 3-3 in the 3rd inning as Cereceres hit an RBI double to score sophomore Ray Jessee. Richards ground-out in the next at-bat but it brought in Cereceres. Barta hit an RBI single to tie it up after his hit scored Ganter.
They tied it again at 4-4 in the 5th inning when Barta drove an RBI single to right field to score Richards.
Ganter closed out the game going 3 for 5 with four RBIs and a run scored while Barta finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run. Cereceres went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs. Martinez was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs. Richards finished 0 for 2 with three RBIs, a run scored, two walks and two stolen bases.
Grenert picked up the win as he pitched three innings in relief, giving up one hit with four strikeouts and one walk.
PC 2 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 7 8 1
PCC 0 0 3 0 1 3 6 0 x 13 11 2
W – C. Grenert (1-0). 2B: Cereceres, Ganter. SB: Barta 2, Richards.
The Aztecs will return to the West Campus Aztec Field on Saturday for an ACCAC conference doubleheader against Glendale community College. First game starts at 12:00 p.m.
