Apaches bounce back after loss, take three from Utah State-Eastern

DOUGLAS, Ariz. -- Cochise Baseball hosted Utah State University-Eastern (Price, UT) for a four-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday, taking three from the Eagles led by an offense that had a combined 40 hits in four games. The series opener saw the Apaches suffer a 14-4 defeat to USU-Eastern, but quickly bounced back and finished with three straight wins.

On Wednesday, February 8th, Cochise won both games of the doubleheader, with game 1 finishing 11-2. Zak Elvy (1-0) was on the mound and took the win, giving up two runs on one hit over three innings, and striking out five. It was all Cochise in game 1 led by Gerardo Hernandez, Mathis Meurant, and Mason Wray who all collected RBI's giving the Apaches a convincing 11-2 win over the Eagles. 

Game 2 on Wednesday was called in the bottom of the 8th inning due to the 10-run rule as Cochise scored their 11th run in another lopsided 11-1 win over USU-Eastern. Tyson Noel (1-1) was the winning pitcher allowing three hits while striking out one and walking one over three innings. The afternoon game saw Eduarny Martinez take one deep to left-center for his first home run of the young season. Hernandez, Brett Matson, and Martinez each collected RBIs in the eighth inning where Cochise pulled away from the Eagles for good. 

On Tuesday, February 7th, the Apaches suffered their second loss of the season to an eager USU-Eastern team looking for their first win. The Apaches struggled to contain the high-powered offense giving up 14 runs and eventually falling 14-4. Cochise attempted to claw back in the fourth inning scoring all four runs off of hits from Martinez, Meurant, and Carlos Vega. The rally wasn't enough, however, as the Eagles came away with their first win.

Game 2 of the day saw the Apaches bounce back, defeating USU-Eastern 10-4, with starting pitcher Fernando Barreda leading the way. The right-hander allowed only one hit and two runs over six innings, striking out 11 and walking one. The Apaches collected 15 hits in the game. Kieran Gaffney, Meurant, Jacob Wiltshire, and Matson each had multiple hits, with Wiltshire blasting three triples. 

Cochise Baseball (9-2) will begin ACCAC conference-play hosting the defending JUCO World Series Champions Central Arizona on Tuesday, Feb. 14th for an afternoon doubleheader beginning at 12:00pm.