Apaches sweep doubleheader at Pima, snapping the Aztec's 12-game win streak

TUCSON, Ariz. --- The Cochise Baseball team took to the road on Saturday afternoon as they visited the Pima College Aztecs for an afternoon doubleheader. The Apaches were coming off of a home split with Yavapai College last week, while Pima had previously won 12 in a row dating back to early February. 

Game 1: Cochise 3, Pima 0

In Game 1 of the doubleheader, both teams were off to a strong start on the mound going into the fourth inning scoreless, until Cochise struck first with a single from Ruben Villaescusa and a sacrifice fly from Kieran Gaffney scoring a run. Another run from Cochise in the fourth gave the Apaches a 2-0 lead. Sophomore infielder Mathis Meurant doubled in the top half of the fifth inning scoring Francisco Laya and giving Cochise a comfortable 3-0 lead, behind the solid pitching performance of freshman Sam Pitts, who allowed four hits and zero runs over six and two-third innings of work. Alejandro Vanegas appeared in relief for Cochise to finish the game and seal the Game 1 win. Richard Gutierrez, Hadley Smith, and Pablo Garcia also each had a hit for the Apaches.

Game 2: Cochise 11, Pima 6

Cochise completed the doubleheader sweep behind the offensive display of Richard Gutierrez who drove in four runs on two hits to lead the Apaches over the Aztecs on Saturday afternoon. Pima struck first in the bottom half of the first inning scoring two runs, however, Cochise answered back in the fourth and didn't look back. Gutierrez hit his fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning, tying the game at four. Cochise took a 9-6 lead in the seventh inning and scored two more in the eighth off of a single from Laya. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Tyson Noel started on the mound for Cochise, allowing six hits and four runs over four innings, striking out four and walking two. Luis Diaz, Alejandro Vanegas, Ramses Guerra, and Alex Figueroa each appeared in relief for Cochise. The Apaches collected ten hits as a team, with Gutierrez, Laya, and Gaffney each collecting two hits.

Up Next..

Cochise (13-7,5-3) will host Scottsdale Post Grad and Ottawa University JV on Tuesday, February 27th, and Wednesday, February 28th (weather permitting) each beginning at noon at Bo Hall Field. The Apaches will then head to Yuma, AZ on Saturday, March 2nd to take on Arizona Western (14-4, 5-3) for another doubleheader at noon.