Apaches Split Doubleheader at No. 10 College of Southern Nevada, Move to 18–5

The 19th-ranked Cochise College Apaches split their conference doubleheader Friday against No. 10 College of Southern Nevada at Morse Stadium in Henderson, Nevada. The Coyotes claimed the opener, but Cochise responded with a dominant pitching performance in game two to even the series. With the split, the Apaches improve to 18–5 overall (3–2 ACCAC).

Game One: CSN 7, Cochise 2

Southern Nevada jumped out early and used steady offense to defeat the Apaches 7–2 in the opener.

The Coyotes scored twice in the first inning before Cochise answered in the third. After singles by Gavin Mesa and Landon Blais, Shiryu Sato delivered a two-run double to left field to tie the game at 2–2.

Southern Nevada regained the lead in the fourth and later broke the game open with three runs in the sixth. The Coyotes finished with 10 hits, including three from Jake Gorrell and two from Brandon Swanson.

Mesa led Cochise offensively with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, while Blais and Sato added the other hits for the Apaches.

On the mound, Collin Smith worked five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) while striking out six before the bullpen finished the game.

Game Two: Cochise 3, CSN 0

Cochise bounced back in game two behind a brilliant pitching performance from Austin Cushman, who threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Apaches to a 3–0 victory.

Cushman was dominant throughout the contest, allowing just three hits while striking out 12 batters and not issuing a walk over nine innings.

The Apaches broke through in the seventh inning when Cesar Chavira delivered a clutch two-run double to score Brady Skinner and TJ Shaw Jr. Chavira struck again in the ninth with another double down the right-field line to bring home Anthony Montez and add an insurance run.

Chavira finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Mesa, Blais, Montez, Skinner, and Jorge Cardenas each added hits in the win.

Series Continues Saturday

With the split, Cochise and Southern Nevada will decide the series in Saturday's rubber match.

Up Next

The Apaches return to the field Saturday, March 7, against the College of Southern Nevada in the series finale.

• Morse Stadium — Henderson, NV

• 1:00 PM MST

Cochise will look to secure the conference series victory against the nationally ranked Coyotes.