By Matt Hickman/Sierra Vista Herald
PRESCOTT — The Cochise College baseball team is finding out that carrying a No. 3 national ranking means getting opponents’ best efforts each time out.
Early Saturday afternoon at Yavapai College, the Apaches did not have their ‘A game,’ losing the opener of a doubleheader 11-0. They were in danger of dropping both ends of the twin-bill, down 4-2 in the eighth before scoring 12 runs in the top of the eighth to win 14-4.
“(Yavapai) came out ready to go, and when you’ve got that No. 3 by your name, you’re not going to sneak by anyone,” Cochise head coach Todd Inglehart said. “We withstood a really tough road test against a quality program. There’s no more sneaking up on people; we’re going to get everybody’s best.”
Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, the Apaches strung together five straight hits, and the first eight to come to the plate reached. The Apaches rattled off 20 hits, led by Nate Hale, Tagg Duce, Jake Luna and Austin Nelson with three apiece. Nelson had three RBIs. Cochise grounded into four double plays.
Jacob Potts started and went the first six innings, allowing six hits and striking out three, but Kenton Schroter, who pitched the eighth, was credited with the win.
Frank Salas took the loss in the first game, giving up eight runs over the first 4 2/3.
At 16-6 on the season, the Apaches head to Phoenix College on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at noon.