Apaches take conference series at home versus Arizona Western
DOUGLAS, Ariz. --- Cochise Baseball began a three-game series Friday afternoon against the Arizona Western College Matadors. The Apaches came into the series, dropping two of three at Eastern Arizona, while AWC was coming off a series win against the College of Southern Nevada.
Friday, February 21st Game 1: Cochise 8, Arizona Western 1
The Matadors quickly jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but that would be all the scoring for them on the day. Cochise responded in the bottom half of the inning when Sawyer Fech scored on a wild pitch. An Alex Dabrowski RBI single and T.J. Shaw two-run double, plated three more for the Apaches in the fourth inning. Self-inflicted wounds from Arizona Western pitching, including four walks and two wild pitches, allowed Cochise to score three more in the bottom half of the seventh. Sawyer Fech and Kenneth Rhein both led the team, reaching base four times with two hits and two walks each. Mathis Nayral turned over another strong start, going 6 2/3 innings allowing only two hits, one unearned run, and six strikeouts. Collin Smith closed the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out four.
Saturday, February 22nd (Game 2, 7 innings): Cochise 3, Arizona Western 1
Cochise was able to draw first blood on Saturday afternoon, as a two-out error in the bottom of the second allowed Jorge Cardenas and Andrugh Yee to score. The Matadors added one in the top of the fourth, but once again that was all the scoring they would be doing. Francisco Laya brought in Kenneth Rhein with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, where the score stayed put for the final three innings. Tyson Owens, Sawyer Fech, and Andrugh Yee each finished the game going 2 for 3. Alejandro Vanegas was stellar on the mound, going five innings, allowing just one run and striking out four. Daniel Gomez finished it off with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Saturday, February 22nd (Game 3, 6 innings): Cochise 2, Arizona Western 13
A game that started to look like Cochise was going to finish off the series sweep ended up in a lopsided finish. Each team scored in the first to have things even going into the second, but Cochise took the lead after Kenneth Rhein reached on a walk and later came across to score on an error. The Apaches just could not get things going their way in the fifth and sixth, as they were held scoreless and gave up twelve runs in those two innings. Alex Dabrowski led the team, going 2 for 2 on the day.
Up Next...
Cochise Baseball (14-6, 7-5) will remain at home as they prepare for a doubleheader against Park University (JV) on February 25th at 12:00 P.M. at Bo Hall Field in Douglas, Arizona.
(Submitted by: Jacob Saavedra, Cochise College Sports Information Assistant)