SMCC Baseball Sweeps ACCAC Doubleheader at Pima CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College baseball team (15-9, 12-2 ACCAC) defeated Pima CC 2-0 (7 innings) and 12-1 (5 innings) in an ACCAC road doubleheader in Tucson on Mar. 4. Freshman Lukas Geisler tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout, and sophomore Christopher Mata and freshman Bobby Pierce Jr. had two hits apiece in the 2-0, game-one victory. In game two, the Cougars used a seven-run fourth inning and got a solid start from sophomore Luis Martin Romero to post a 12-1, five-inning victory. 

Game One Recap

The Cougars got an outstanding performance from freshman Lukas Geisler, who improved to 3-1 on the season. He retired the side in order four times and allowed singles in the first, fourth, and seventh. He fanned one and struck out one over the seven frames. 

Offensively, SMCC scored twice in the top of the second. Freshman Bryan Lorenz led off the inning with a single and moved to second after freshman Drew Johnson drew a walk. Sophomore Luke Jones moved both runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt, and Lorenz scored the game's first run on a dropped third strike. Mata then brought in Johnson with a two-out RBI single. 

Mata was 2 for 3 with the RBI, and Pierce Jr. was 2 for 3 with a walk. Johnson was 1 for 2 with a run and a walk, and freshman Joe Terranova had a hit and a walk. 

Game Two Recap 

The Cougars scored two runs in the first and second and then broke the game open with a seven-run fourth inning en route to a 12-1, five-inning victory. 

SMCC scored twice in the opening frame. Pierce Jr. and Terranova walked to start the inning and moved into scoring position after a ground out from sophomore Raul Parada. Lorenz then brought both home with a two-run single. 

After the Aztecs got one back in their half of the first, the Cougars responded wtih two more in the top of the second. Sophomore Marcus Romero doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single from sophomore Brady Lord. Pierce Jr. and Terranova then reached safely, and Pierce Jr. scored on an RBI groundout from Parada. 

Pierce Jr. started the fourth with a double and quickly scored on an RBI single from Terranova. Parada singled, and Terranova scored on an RBI groundout from Johnson.

With two outs, sophomore Landon Springmeyer and Mata drew walks to load the bases, and Romero brought Parada and Springmeyer in with a two-run single. Lord added an RBI single to score Mata, and Romero scored on the play on an error. Lord then completed the inning's scoring by coming home on a passed ball. 

Mata recorded a sacrifice fly in the fifth to bring in Parada and conclude the game's offense. 

Pierce Jr., Parada, Lorenz, Romero, and Lord all had two hits in the victory. Pierce Jr., Romero, and Lorenz had doubles, and Parada and Romero recorded sacrifice bunts. 

On the mound, Luis Martin Romero (3-0) earned his third win of the year with five innings of work. He worked around four hits and one earned run while striking out four.