(RV) Paradise Valley Sweeps (RV) Thunderbirds
Saturday, March 5, 2022 - 3:48 pm | Derek Diesner
Mesa, AZ - The Mesa Thunderbirds dropped their weekend series to the Paradise Valley Pumas on Friday and Saturday. Paradise Valley claimed the win Friday at home, 12-1 in a final 7-innings. The Pumas then scored a pair of late runs to steal a 4-2 road win over the Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon.
With the sweep, the Thunderbirds; who are currently receiving votes in the latest NJCAA DII Baseball National Poll, fall to 12-9 overall and 4-8 in ACCAC action. The T-Birds have now dropped four straight and eight of their last ten games. The Pumas improve to 16-8 overall and 6-5 in ACCAC play.
(RV) Mesa 1 at (RV) Paradise Valley 12 Final 7-innings (Friday, March 4)
The Pumas raced out to an early lead on Friday afternoon and never looked back. Paradise Valley plated all of their runs in the first four innings, staking the early 12-0 lead.
Cade Malone would single in AJ Vanbogaert for the T-Bird's lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Mesa's offense finished the game with just six hits.
(RV) Paradise Valley 4 at (RV) Mesa 2 - (Saturday, March 5)
On Saturday, the offensive woes continued to plague the Thunderbirds. Paradise Valley once again jumped out to an early lead. The Pumas scored a run in the top of the first inning and then scored again in the top of the third inning for the early 2-0 lead.
Mesa responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, striking for two runs to even the game at 2-2. Connor Culp led the inning off with a walk, and would later score on a Lucas Danielewicz single to centerfield. Danielewicz would then come around to score two batters later, on a Dawson Baracani single to centerfield as well.
The game would remain tied at 2-2 until the top of the eighth inning. Mesa starting pitcher Erik Dulittle retired the first batter in the top of the eighth on a pop-out, but then surrendered back-to-back singles, before being pulled for reliever Mitchell Torres. Both of the baserunners Dulittle allowed to reach would come around to score while Torres was in. One runner scored on an error, the other scored on a basehit.
Dulittle (2-1) took the tough-luck loss. He lasted 7.1 innings and allowed four runs; three earned on 13 hits, to go along with three strikeouts.
The Thunderbirds will now turn their attention to the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters. The T-Birds will entertain the Gila Monsters Tuesday afternoon for an ACCAC doubleheader beginning at 12 Noon.
Don't forget to check out the MCC Team Shop, as well as our Booster Club.