Cochise combines for 31 hits in two games to sweep Yavapai College on the road

PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- Cochise Baseball was on the road Saturday, April 15th at Yavapai College in a pivotal conference matchup. The Apaches lost both games of the doubleheader at home back in February to YCC and were looking to make a statement heading into the final games of the regular season. Coming off of a road doubleheader split at Central Arizona College, Cochise went into Prescott winners of five of their last seven and outscoring their opponents 55-13 in April. The Roughriders were coming off of a split at home when they hosted Pima College on Tuesday, April 11th.

Game 1: Cochise 9, Yavapai 6

Cochise found themselves down late in the game when a fifth-inning rally pushed the Apaches past Yavapai led by a four-hit game by outfielder Gerardo Hernandez. YCC captured the lead in the second inning off of a two-run single from Niko Rosell giving the Roughriders a 5-3 lead. The score remained the same through the fifth inning when Hernandez hit a triple scoring Keiran Gaffney, followed by an RBI single from Eduarny Martinez knotting the game at five. Another hit from Hernandez in the sixth scored Dylan Bradford giving the Apaches the lead late in the game making way for a save opportunity for Marco Ozuna. Mathias LaCombe was Cochise's starting pitcher, earning the win, followed by a save for Ozuna. LaCombe lasted five innings, allowing four hits and five runs while striking out five. In total, the Apaches collected 14 hits on the day. Hernandez, Bradford, and Makai Desoto all had multiple hits. 

Game 2: Cochise 14, Yavapai 6

Game 2 was all Cochise as the Apaches collected 14 runs off of 17 hits to cruise by the Roughriders for the doubleheader sweep. The Apaches started early scoring two runs in the second inning followed by a six-run third inning led by singles from Joel Lindahl, Mathis Muerant, and Kieran Gaffney. Fernando Barreda was the starting pitcher for Cochise and allowed eight hits and four runs over six and a third innings, striking out five. Ruben Villaescusa and Christian Olea each belted their first home run of the season in the ninth inning solidifying an Apaches rout of Yavapai. Bradford, Olea, Desoto, Lindahl, Meurant, and Martinez collected multiple hits, with Olea and Bradford leading the way with three each. 

Up Next...

Cochise Baseball (32-16;16-14) looks to keep their late-season run going as they visit Pima College (36-12;21-9) on Tuesday, April 18th for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 pm.