T-Birds Split Weekend Series with PC, Win Saturday Afternoon, 5-2

Mesa, AZ - The #17 Mesa Thunderbirds baseball squad split a weekend series with the Phoenix College Bears, with a 5-3 Bears victory on Friday and Mesa taking Saturday afternoons match, 5-2.

In Saturday's affair, Mesa didn't get the runs going til the sixth inning when Paul Steffensen roped a double to left field which was followed by a Connor Denning walk.  Brian So then singled to left field to score Steffensen to tie it at one.  Garrett LaBreche then singled to score Denning.  A Ben Ferguson infield single scored So from third helping Mesa go ahead 3-1.  Taylor Darden finished the scoring the inning by hitting into a fielder's choice, which scored LaBreche.

A single by Cory Chaplin to left field in the eighth inning helped finalize the final run for the T-Birds.  

On the mound, it was Nolan Ruff who finished with the win.  Easton Brinton started the game and pitched five innings and struck out six.  Tommy Garcia finalized the save for the T-Birds in the top of the ninth inning.

Mesa moves to 10-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.  They will play Thompson River tomorrow afternoon at Mesa beginning at noon.