(RV) Thunderbird Bats Remain Quiet In Tucson

Saturday, March 12, 2022 - 6:00 pm | Derek Diesner

Tucson, AZ - The Mesa Thunderbirds slide continued on Saturday afternoon, as they dropped their ACCAC doubleheader at Pima. The Aztecs claimed a 10-0 win in game one in a final 5-innings and won a tight contest 5-2 in game two.

With the pair of losses, the Mesa Thunderbirds; who are currently receiving votes in the latest NJCAA DII Baseball National Poll fall to 14-12 overall and 6-10 in ACCAC action. The T-Birds have dropped their last three games and fall to 1-7 this year on the road. With the sweep Saturday, the Pima Aztecs improve to 19-10 overall and 8-7 in ACCAC play.

Game 1:

Game one was even at 0-0 after two innings of play, then the Aztecs' offense came to life and never looked back. Pima struck for seven runs in the third inning, then added two more runs in the fourth, followed by a final run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal the 10-0 win in run-rule fashion; a final 5-innings.

In the loss, Mesa finished with just five hits and made four errors as a team.

T-Birds starter Erik Dulittle (2-1) tossed four innings and surrendered nine runs; eight earned on 13 hits. He also struckout two batters. Octavio Flores came in to relieve Dulittle in the fifth inning. After getting two outs, Flores gave up an unearned run to end the game on just one hit.

Game 2:

The second game of Saturday's double-dip was a polar opposite from game one. The fans were treated to a pitcher's duel and Mesa's offense attacked first, striking for a run to take a 1-0 lead after an inning of play. 

Pima then struck for three runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back in the 5-2 victory.

Marshall Williams (2-for-3) and Dean Bittner (2-for-4) both finished with two hits each. Bittner also drove in one of the two runs for the T-Birds.

Colton Vercoe (0-3) took the loss in game two, tossing five innings while allowing five runs; three earned on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Mike Marshall tossed three scoreless innings in relief of Vercoe, while allowing just one hit, one walk, and he struckout a pair of Aztecs.

The Thunderbirds will have a few days to regroup, before returning to the diamond Wednesday to host Benedictine University at Mesa's JV squad. The first pitch is slated for 2 pm.

Don't forget to check out the MCC Team Shop, as well as our Booster Club.