T-Birds stay hot on the diamond

Monday February 19, 2024 - 1:45 p.m. | Dylan DeVlieger

MCC Baseball continued their winning ways over the weekend as they took down No. 18 Chandler-Gilbert and Thompson River.

CGCC:
In their second game in a row against the Coyotes, MCC got it rolling early as they would score two in the first inning off a wild pitch and a balk. CGCC would answer in their half of the inning with a sacrifice to cut the T-Birds lead to just one.

In the second Mesa would continue where they left off in the first as a two out rally would stem from a Nicholas Masciangelo walk.

With Masciangelo on first Jayden Israel would rip a single into left field which would advance the speedy Masciangelo all the way to third. 

With two on and two out Josh Degroot would come to the dish, after Israel advanced to second on a stole base Degroot would ground one to the third baseman but with Degroot's speed the Coyotes would not get him out at first as Masciangelo scored, Israel would also score after CGCC was a bit delayed to get the ball to home as MCC would take a 4-1 lead. 

In the sixth inning MCC would add to their advantage as an RBI bunt from Michael Williamson would score Jayce Vaughan,  as theT-Birds led 5-1.

Mesa would work themselves into trouble in the eighth inning as CGCC would load the bases with nobody out. An RBI single would score two and a sac fly would score two more as the relay throw from centerfield to shortstop would get away, as the Coyotes would tie the game 5-5 in the eighth. 

With neither team gaining an advantage in ninth we went to extras, MCC would go quiet in their half of the 10th but the Coyotes would make some noise, advancing a runner all the way to third base with an opportunity to walk off the Thunderbirds. 

CGCC would hit a deep fly ball all the way to the left field wall but an impressive catch from Bret Housel would save the game for Mesa.

The T-Birds would get two on and one out in the 11th inning but were unable to advance a runner past second base.

Christian Woodward would keep the Coyotes quiet in the 11th and 12th innings as he would strike out four batters while keeping CGCC off the scoreboard.

In the 13th inning MCC would get a run across as Michael Williamson would score from third on another Coyote balk as the T-Birds would take a 6-5 advantage.

Just as he had done on Friday Woodward would sit CGCC down in order in their last opportunity to extend the game as MCC would take their second straight over the Coyotes, 6-5.

Woodward would finish the game with eight strikeouts through six innings pitched, only allowing one hit and one run as he picked up his first win of the year.

Thompson River:

After playing their third game in three days the Thunderbird came out a bit sluggish at home against Thompson River as they allowed two runs in the first and one in the fifth before the T-Birds bats woke up. 

Mesa would score three in their half of the fifth inning to tie the game 3-3, a score we would hold all the way until the eighth inning when both teams would score one run, bringing the score to 4-4.

MCC would keep Thompson River off the board in the ninth inning allowing MCC an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.

After advancing a runner to third base Jayce Vaughan would come to the dish and sneak a grounder past a five man Thompson River infield into left field, walking it off for the T-Birds.

With the wins MCC improved their record to 9-3 (3-1 ACCAC) on the year. Mesa is back in action on Tuesday as they travel to take on Phoenix College in a conference contest.