Noel pitches two-hit shutout en route to Cochise sweep over EAC

DOUGLAS, Ariz. --- The Cochise Baseball team welcomed the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters to Bo Hall Field Tuesday to begin ACCAC play. The Apaches were coming off of a four-game sweep over Colorado Northwestern last week, and winning 7 out of their last 8 games overall. Before Tuesday, EAC had only played in one four-game series in which they swept Luna College handily at home, while other scheduled games were canceled due to weather. 

Game 1: Cochise 6, Eastern Arizona 5

The Apaches took the Game 1 win in dramatic fashion as they defeated Eastern Arizona with a 6-5 walk-off, courtesy of freshman infielder Kenneth Rhein. Cochise trailed Eastern Arizona late in the seventh inning 5-2, as they quietly crept back into the game with a double from Francisco Laya scoring two, a Richard Gutierrez walk, and a Mathis Meurant fielders choice which set the stage for a Rhein double to win the game. Ramses Guerra started the game on the mound for Cochise struggling in the top half of the first to get a Gila Monster out as they jumped on the Apaches for an early 1-0 lead. Cochise responded quickly with a sacrifice fly from sophomore Ruben Villaescusa, and another from Laya in the second giving Cochise a 2-1 lead. EAC scored another run in the third and three more runs in the seventh off of relievers Alex Figueroa and Alex Vanegas. A Cochise rally in the bottom of the seventh gave them the Game 1 win over Eastern Arizona.

Game 2: Cochise 10, Eastern Arizona 0

Game 2 was all Cochise as they ran away with a 10-0 win, which was called in the seventh inning due to the 10-run rule. The Apaches were led by one of the most dominant pitching performances thus far from starting pitcher Tyson Noel, who tossed a complete game two-hit shutout, which included 10 strikeouts and only one walk. Noel was poised for a solid pitching performance which helped provide much-needed rest for his relievers. The Apaches were the first to get on the board in the second when Mason Wray singled scoring one run. Cochise extended their lead in the third with RBI singles from Villaescusa and Meurant. Four more runs scored in the fourth, which included a two-run home run from freshman Richard Gutierrez, his fourth on the season. In total, the Apaches collected 14 hits led by Villaescusa who had three. 

Up Next..

Cochise Baseball (10-4,2-0), will face their first true test of the season on the road as they head to Coolidge, AZ on Saturday, February 17th to take on Central Arizona College (8-4) for a double-header beginning at noon.