Plasschaert hits grand slam, Roberts throws 5-inning shutout as Baseball beats Colorado Northwestern CC

The Pima Community College baseball team (8-0) opened its four-game series with Colorado Northwestern Community College on Friday at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field.

• Freshman Zach Plasschaert closed out the day going 2 for 6 with five RBIs and a run scored while freshman Leon Cereceres finished 4 for 8 with an RBI and four runs scored in the lead-off spot. Sophomore Collin Senior (Horizon HS) also had a four-hit afternoon as he went 4 for 6 with an RBI and two runs scored as did freshman Sean Barta, who was 4 for 6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomores Maclain Roberts and Tsubasa Tomii picked up the wins on the mound.
• Game 1: (23) Pima CC Aztecs 10, Colorado Northwestern CC Spartans 0 (5 innings): Plasschaert went yard as part of a six-run 3^rd inning while Roberts took care of business on the mound.
  Robert pitched a five-inning shutout as he gave up four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks on 89 pitches.
  Up 2-0 in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, the Aztecs loaded the bases with no outs. Plasschaert got it to a full count and drove a shot deep to right field for the grand slam scoring Senior, sophomore Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) and Barta to put Pima up 6-0. Cereceres hit an RBI single to score sophomore Ray Jessee and would score on the wild pitch to cap the inning. Pima led 8-0.
  Barta hit a lead-off triple in the 4^th inning and two batters later, freshman Max Leyva (Tucson Magnet HS) drove him in with an RBI single.
  Freshman Matt MacDonald ended the game in the 5^th inning with a walk-off RBI double to score Cereceres, who led off the inning with a single.
  Plasschaert finished 1 for 3 with four RBIs and a run scored. Cereceres went 3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs. Barta hit an RBI single in the 1^st inning and was a flawless 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs. Senior went 2 for 3 with a run.

CNCC   0 0 0 0 0    0     4    1
PCC      2 0 6 1 1   10   12   0

W – Roberts (2-0). 2B: MacDonald. 3B: Barta. GS: Plasschaert. SB: Cereceres 3, Richards.

• Game 2: (23) Pima CC Aztecs 5, Colorado Northwestern CC Spartans 4: The Aztecs won it in the 7^th inning after Senior hit a walk-off RBI triple to score MacDonald, who hit a lead-off single to get it going.
  The Aztecs took the lead in the 1^st inning when MacDonald hit an RBI double driving in Cereceres. Freshman Jackson Glueck made it 2-0 with his RBI double bringing around MacDonald.
  Barta came through in the 3^rd inning with two runners on base as he hit an RBI single to score Senior. Plasschaert followed with a groundout RBI to plate Glueck and make it 4-0.
  The Spartans took advantage of some errors and scored two runs in the 4^th inning and two in the 5^th inning to tie the game.
  MacDonald finished the game 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior and Glueck each went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Barta and Plasschaert each finished 1 for 3 with an RBI.
  Tomii got the win after he pitched the final two innings as gave up two hits with three strikeouts. Sophomore Nate Gray (Queen Creek HS) started the game and went four innings, giving up two runs (none earned) on one hit with six strikeouts and one walk.

CNCC   0 0 0 2 2 0 0   4    3    1
PCC      2 0 2 0 0 0 1   5   12   4

W – Tomii (1-0). 2B: Glueck, MacDonald. 3B: Senior.

The Aztecs will play another doubleheader against the Spartans on Saturday at the West Campus Aztec Field. Game time will be at noon and 2:30 p.m.