Cougar Pitching Staff Delivers in Win over Phoenix College

The South Mountain Community College baseball team (5-6) posted an 8-2 victory against Phoenix College on Wednesday afternoon in its 2020 home opener. Seven Cougars saw time on the hill, and they combined to hold Phoenix College to five hits.

Head coach Todd Eastin went with a host of arms rather than a traditional starter in the win. Jake Sansing tossed the first and retired the side on 11 pitches. Brayden Brooks threw a quiet second and picked up a strikeout.

Matt Bohnert was responsible for the third through fifth innings, giving up one hit and an unearned run. Parker Wakelyn, Damien Hernandez and Trey Goodrich worked cleanly through the sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, and Shawn Triplett worked the ninth.

In all, the Cougar pitchers recorded five strikeouts, three walks and only one earned run. They also worked around four defensive errors in addition to holding the Phoenix College offense at bay.

The Cougars struck for two runs in the bottom of the first to seize the momentum early. With two outs, Efrain Cervantes scored on a balk, and Ricky Munoz delivered an RBI single to score Justin Quinn.

The Bears got one run back in the top of the third, but SMCC responded with a run in their half of the inning. Dustin Bermudez started the frame with a single and quickly stole second. After moving to third on a wild pitch, he scored on an RBI single from Michael Quinones.

SMCC added a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Bermudez wound up on second after a one-out error and then took third on a wild pitch. After Cervantes drew a walk, Bermudez got caught stealing home, and he later scored on Quinn's second RBI single of the game. Quinn then scored on an RBI single from Quinones after taking second.

The Cougars tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs to start the inning. A Bears' pick-off throw went awry, and that allowed Quinn and Quinones to score. Munoz later came home on an RBI groundout from Brendan Blakeman.

Quinones finished 2 for 2 with two RBIs, two walks and a run scored. Munoz went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run, while Quinn scored a season-high three runs.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Feb. 15, with an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference home doubleheader against Yavapai College. Game one starts at noon.