Apaches snap Central Arizona's 28-game winning streak, split doubleheader on the road

COOLIDGE, Ariz. -- Cochise Baseball was on the road on Tuesday as they departed to Coolidge, Arizona to take on the Central Arizona College Vaqueros, defending JUCO World Series Champions and winners of 28 straight heading into the conference doubleheader. The Vaqs were coming off a weekend sweep of Pima, while the Apaches took one out of two at home against Eastern Arizona. 

Game 1: Cochise 5, Central Arizona 2

Cochise found themselves with an early lead scoring in the top half of the second inning when Ruben Villaeascusa hit a ground ball to the Central AZ second baseman causing an error and scoring Mathis Meurant. Another strong effort on the mound from reliever-turned-starter Marco Ozuna found the Apaches leading through the fifth inning when Central AZ answered with two runs late in the game. Cochise managed to regain the lead in the sixth inning when another Vaquero error scored two runs giving the Apaches a 3-2 lead. A wild pitch from the CAC pitcher allowed Gerardo Hernandez to score giving Cochise a much-needed insurance run. Mathias LaCombe came in relief for Cochise throwing one and a third inning earning the save striking out one and walking one. Ozuna threw five and two third innings giving up two runs off of four hits, striking out eight, and walking three. Mathis Meurant led the Apaches offensively going 2-for-4 at the plate during Game 1. The Apaches defeated Central Arizona 5-2 handing the Vaqueros their first loss since February 22nd when they fell to South Mountain in Game 1 of the doubleheader. 

Game 2: Cochise 2, Central Arizona 12

In Game 2, Central Arizona answered back in a large way scoring 11 runs off of the Cochise relievers in the final three innings. Evan Shaw started on the mound for Cochise lasting six innings surrendering three runs off two hits, striking out 12, and walking three. Game 2 was tied at one heading into the bottom of the sixth when Central Arizona's offense went on a tear scoring two runs in the sixth, four runs in the seventh, and five more in the eighth to end the game on a ten-run rule. The Vaqueros came away with a 12-2 win. Pablo Garcia led the Apaches with multiple hits, while Hernandez, Eduarny Martinez, Christian Olea, Dylan Bradford, and Ruben Villaescusa each collected one hit. 

Up Next...

Cochise Baseball (30-16;14-14) will head to Prescott, Arizona to take on Yavapai College (25-14;18-10) on Saturday, April 15th for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00pm.