SMCC Baseball Takes Two from Eastern Arizona

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College baseball team (9-7, 2-2 ACCAC) defeated Eastern Arizona 5-4 and 9-3 in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference home doubleheader on Feb. 19. The Cougars overcame an early 3-0 deficit in the first game and rallied for two runs in the seventh to post the walk-off win. SMCC overcame another 3-0 deficit in the second game, scoring four runs in the third and the fifth in the eighth to sweep the Gila Monsters.

Game One Recap

The Cougars trailed 3-0 before they had their first at-bats but rallied to tie the game in the second and scored another pair of runs in the seventh to walk off with the victory. Brian Leon scored the winning run by stealing home, and he added a couple of walks.

Jayden Smith and Taylor Tractenberg each had two hits in the win. Smith scored a run, drew a walk and stole a base. Tractenberg roped a triple, recorded an RBI and drew a walk.

Connor Schneider scored a pair of runs and added an RBI and a double. Esteban Hernandez had the team's second double, and Gustavo Sosa recorded a run and an RBI.

Jacob Beltran (3-0) picked up the win by recording the final two outs in the seventh. Carter Krosky started the game for SMCC and had six strikeouts, and one earned run in 6.1 innings of work.

Game Two Recap

Trailing 3-0, the Cougars scored four runs in the second and added five runs in the eighth to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Smith went 3-for-4 with two runs, three RBIs and a sacrifice bunt. Schneider finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs and his second double of the day.

Gillis Champagne scored a pair of runs and drew three walks, and Hernandez and Carter Richey added a run and an RBI.

Ryan Figueroa (3-0) earned the win with 7.1 innings of relief work. He fanned 10 batters and did not allow a hit. Raul Garayzar started the game for SMCC and struck out two with one earned run in 1.2 innings.