Lucas' Home Run Helps Cougar Baseball Split Doubleheader at Pima CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College baseball team (6-2, 3-1 ACCAC) split an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on Mar. 2 at Pima Community College, winning the first game 7-5 (7) before falling 4-0 in the second contest. Three Cougars had multiple RBIs in game one, and Derek Decolati earned the win with an inning of relief work. In the second game, the SMCC offense managed four hits as the squad saw its six-game winning streak come to an end. 

Game One

Trailing 5-4 at the start of the seventh, the Cougars scored three runs in the final frame to complete the comeback. 

With one out in the seventh, Justin Quinn singled and then stole second. Down to their final out, McKay Barney singled to score Quinn and tie the game. That set up Andrew Lucas, who unleashed a two-run home run, his first of the season, to give the Cougars the 7-5 advantage. 

Decolati (1-0) then worked around a pair of singles and struck out the final batter looking to preserve the victory. 

Quinn finished 2-for-3 with three runs, an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and his second home run of the season. Lucas was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs, while Barney and Dustin Bermudez had two RBIs. 

The Cougars struck early as Quinn hit a home run to left field in the first inning. After the Aztecs took a 3-1 lead in the third, SMCC responded with three runs in the fifth when Bermudez hit a two-run double to score Holden Breeze and Brodie Marino. Quinn later came home on a sac fly from Barney to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead. 

Pima CC answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead and set up the late dramatics. 

Carter Krosky started the game for SMCC, recording five strikeouts and one unearned run in 4.1 innings of work. Drew Woody pitched the sixth, and TJ Czyz and Ben Meyerson each recorded an out in the fifth.  

Game Two

The Cougars could not carry the momentum over into the nightcap, falling 4-0 for their first loss since the season opener. 

Breeze, Barney, Lucas and Dylan Fesperman recorded hits for SMCC in the loss. Fesperman's first career hit as a Cougar went for a double.

On the mound, Nolan Livsey (0-1) took the loss for SMCC, allowing only one hit and one run in 4.2 innings of work. He added two strikeouts and three walks. Kyle Ponzo pitched 1.1 innings of relief with a strikeout, and Trey Goodrich tossed the final two innings and recorded three K's. 

SMCC returns to action on Mar. 6 with a doubleheader at Phoenix College. The first game starts at noon.