Connor Denning Clubs Two Homers While Carter Robinson Throws Complete Game as #11 Mesa Wins at Paradise Valley, 6-1

Paradise Valley, AZ - The #11 Mesa Thunderbirds put together another complete game as they defeated the Paradise Valley Pumas Friday afternoon, 6-1.

Ahead in the standings by two games over the Pumas coming into today, the T-Birds rode the arm of Carter Robinson, who pitched his first complete game as a Mesa Thunderbird.

Striking out 10 Puma batters on the afternoon, Robinson allowed just six hits and gave up one run, unearned.  In the top of the first, the 6'8" freshman pitcher found himself in hot water as the Pumas loaded the bases with the first three batters.  Robinson then struck out the next three batters to eliminate any threat.  He would then strike out the side in order in the second inning as well.

On the scoring side for the T-Birds, it was the thunder and lightning of Connor Denning and Paul Steffensen that powered Mesa on the board.  Denning connected on a two-run homer in the first inning to give Mesa a 2-0 advantage.  In the top of the second inning, Riley Peterson singled to begin the inning.  He was later knocked in by a Kelby Richardson single to push the lead to 3-0.  A Paul Steffensen single later scored Richardson to make a 4-0 Mesa advantage.

To lead off the seventh inning, Connor Denning crushed a solo homer over the right field fence, his second of the day.  Before anyone could blink, Pauly Steffensen crushed a solo homer over the right center field fence to score Mesa's final run of the afternoon.  Overall on the day, Denning went 3-5 with two homers and a single with three RBI's while Paul Steffensen went 4-5 with a homer and three singles with two RBI's.  Mesa's top three hitters went 10-14 with six RBI's and three homers.

Mesa is now 38-13 overall and 22-13 in the ACCAC.  The T-Birds and Pumas will be back in action tomorrow at MCC with a noon first pitch start.