Richards and Jones each knock 3-run homers as Baseball bounces back to top GateWay CC

The Pima Community College baseball team (40-11, 24-11 in ACCAC) secured its third straight 40-win season on Wednesday as it bounced back with a win against GateWay Community College (12-31, 7-27) at the West Campus Aztec Field.

• The No. 9 ranked Aztecs halted a rally by the Geckos to pick up the 16-9 win.
• The Pima offense started strong as they took a 7-0 lead after the 2^nd inning. Freshmen Max Leyva (Tucson Magnet HS) and Ramon Martinez hit back-to-back RBI singles and freshman Leon Cereceres followed with an RBI double to put the Aztecs up 4-0. Sophomore Caden Richards capped off the inning with a three-run home run to center field as they scored six runs to go up 7-0.
• The Geckos scored three runs in the top of the 3^rd inning, but the Aztecs responded when freshman Ernie Alvarez (Canyon del Oro HS) hit an RBI single to score freshman Zach Plasschaert. Alvarez made it 9-3 when he stepped on home plate after a passed ball.
• The Geckos closed the gap with one run in the 4^th and four runs in the 5^th inning as Pima clinged to a 9-8 lead. The Aztecs' offense responded again with another six runs in the bottom of the 5^th.
• Leyva drew a lead-off walk and scored on a fielder's choice. Freshman Jackson Glueck hit a two-run RBI single to plate Cereceres and Richards. Plasschaert reached on a single to help set up freshman Mike Jones' (Canyon del Oro HS) three-run homer bringing around Glueck and Plasschaert to make it 15-8.
• The Aztecs added another insurance run in the 6^th inning when Cereceres hit an RBI single to drive in Leyva.
• Richards finished the game 1 for 5 with five RBIs and two runs while Jones went 1 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs. Cereceres was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs. Leyva closed it out going 2 for 3 with an RBI, three runs and two walks. Alvarez finished 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs while Glueck was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Plasschaert went 2 for 4 with two runs.
• Sophomore Taylin Oana picked up the win in relief as he pitched two innings, giving up five runs (five earned) on four hits with three walks. Freshman Cam Grenert (Horizon HS) got his first save of the season as he threw three innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.

GWCC   0 0 3 1 4 1 0 0 0    9    11   5
PCC       1 6 2 0 6 1 0 0 x   16   14   3

W – Oana (2-0). S – C. Grenert (1). 2B: Cereceres. HR: Richards, Jones. SB: Cereceres, Leyva.

The Aztecs will return to the West Campus Aztec Field on Friday when they host an ACCAC conference game against Scottsdale Community College. First pitch is at 12:00 p.m.