Baseball clinches ACCAC playoff spot with a home sweep over AZ Western

The Cochise College baseball team took on the #19 ranked Arizona Western on Tuesday, April 26, in a doubleheader at home. After having a bye on Saturday, the Apaches got back to business looking for just one win on the day to clinch a playoff spot in the ACCAC.

The Apaches turned the ball over to Sophomore RHP Treyjen Meza for the start. He allowed three hits over five innings and kept the Matadors off the board for five innings while striking out nine. Sophomore RHP Marco Ozuna relieved Meza and took the sixth and seventh inning of the game.

Ozuna was locked in and had a dominant two innings of work, punching out three Arizona Western's hitters and allowing no hits. Meza earned his thirteenth win, and Ozuna made his twelfth save of the year. Both pitchers combined for a seven-inning shutout, giving the Apaches an ACCAC playoff spot.

Cochise got on the board first with an infield single by Freshman outfielder Leo Melendez that scored Makai Desoto from third. The Apaches added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, making it 2-0. Pitching was strong for both teams, but Cochise prevailed with a gutsy performance from Sophomores Marco Ozuna and Treyjen Meza.

Offensively for Cochise, Eduarny Martinez led the team in hits with two.

After securing the 2-0 victory in game one, Cochise locked themselves in as one of the four teams who will appear in the ACCAC playoffs. Cochise is the only team to make the playoffs every year since 2013, the season they made a run to the NJCAA World Series. Cochise gave themselves a chance to jump AZ Western in the standings with a sweep. The Apaches Freshman LHP Evan Shaw was on the mound for game two. Shaw allowed two hits and one earned run over five and a third innings, striking out seven Matador hitters. Arizona Western stole two runs in the top of the fifth on a pickoff that led to two errors. They increased their lead to four runs after a two-run homer in the top of the sixth, making it 4-0. Cochise answered back with an emphatic seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Aaron Marsh hit a solo home run to put Cochise on the board. Makai Desoto homered on a 1-1 count, scoring three runs and tying the game at four. Leo Melendez hit an inside-the-park home run on a 0-2 count with a line drive getting past the diving Arizona Western right fielder, scoring two runs. The seven runs were all Cochise needed as they secured a 7-6 win competing for the sweep on the day. The Apaches handed the ball over to closer Marco Ozuna in the eighth inning with a one-run lead. Ozuna was locked in and secured his thirteenth save of the year with four strikeouts.

Cochise had ten hits in the game. Damian Garcia and Gerardo Hernandez had multiple hits for Cochise. Garcia led with three. Cochise jumped from third to second in the standings with two games left with a sweep over Arizona Western.

In Phoenix, the Apaches will take on South Mountain Community College this Saturday, April 30, in a doubleheader.