No. 15 Apaches Drop Doubleheader at Central Arizona, Move to 40–13 (17–10 ACCAC)
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — The No. 15 Cochise College Apaches fell in both games of Saturday's ACCAC doubleheader against Central Arizona College in Coolidge, dropping the twin bill to move to 40–13 overall (17–10 ACCAC).
With one week remaining in the regular season, Cochise now sits three games behind Southern Nevada and remains tied for second place with Arizona Western College in a tightly contested conference race.
Game One: Central Arizona 8, Cochise 0
The Apaches were held in check offensively in the opener, falling 8–0 as Central Arizona's pitching staff limited Cochise to just two hits .
Cochise struggled to find rhythm at the plate, striking out 13 times and leaving multiple runners on base. Shiryu Sato and Cesar Chavira recorded the lone hits for the Apaches.
Central Arizona gradually built its lead, scoring in five different innings, including a four-run sixth inning to break the game open.
On the mound, Collin Smith took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) over 5.2 innings. Max Pitts provided brief relief to close out the game.
Game Two: Central Arizona 9, Cochise 7
Game 2 featured a dramatic finish, with Central Arizona rallying late to edge Cochise 9–7 in a back-and-forth contest.
Cochise jumped out early, scoring runs in each of the first three innings and building a 6–2 lead through five innings. The Apaches continued to hold the advantage into the late innings, taking a 7–4 lead into the ninth.
However, Central Arizona mounted a five-run ninth inning, highlighted by a two-run double and a two-run home run, to complete the comeback and secure the sweep.
Gavin Mesa led the offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Shiryu Sato added two hits. Anthony Montez drove in two RBIs, and George McCarroll contributed a hit and an RBI.
On the mound, Noah Miller delivered a solid start, allowing four runs over 6.1 innings. Ben Couvreur took the loss in relief after Central Arizona's late surge.
Conference Race Tightens
Despite the setback, Cochise remains in strong position in the ACCAC standings, tied for second place with one week remaining in the regular season. The Apaches will look to regroup quickly as postseason positioning continues to take shape.
Up Next
Cochise returns home to Bo Hall Field in Douglas, Arizona for the final regular season series against Yavapai College:
- Friday, May 1 — Doubleheader (12:00 PM)
- Saturday, May 2 — 1:00 PM (Single Game)
The Apaches will aim to finish the regular season strong as they prepare for postseason play.