DOUGLAS, Ariz. – The Yavapai College baseball team came up just short in its two ACCAC contests with the Cochise College Apaches on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-2 and 7-4. Overall, the Roughriders are 7-6-1 this season with a 1-3 mark in ACCAC games. 

Game One
The Roughriders got off to a quick start in the first inning of game one as sophomore infielder Kade York walked to lead the game off and was followed by a bunt single off the bat of freshman infielder Barrett Skaugrud. 

York eventually scored on an error and Skaugrud scored on an RBI single from redshirt-sophomore outfielder Amari Bartee. 

The quick start, however, didn't translate into any more rallies for YC as it saw the Apaches tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth with a couple of unearned runs and win the game in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off single. 

On the mound, sophomore righty Nathan Ward got the start and tossed five innings, allowed just two runs (both unearned) and struck out four. Fellow sophomore righty Ethan Bell pitched a scoreless inning after Ward and logged two strikeouts. 

Offensively, Bartee led the squad with two hits while York, Skaugrud, freshman utility man Ben Zeigler and sophomore catcher Alton Gyselman all finished with one. 

Game Two
The Roughriders were playing from behind early in game two as the Apaches jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. 

In the top of the fourth, however, the Roughriders rallied and pushed three across to tie the game. Sophomore infielder JT Taylor walked to start the frame and moved to second on a single from Bartee. Zeigler followed the duo with an RBI single and then saw Bartee score on an RBI groundout. 

Gyselman then capped off the three-run frame with a two-out RBI single to center to tie things up at 3-3. 

Unfortunately for the Roughriders, the Apaches pulled ahead once more with a run in the bottom of the fourth and three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 7-3 lead. 

In the top of the ninth, the Roughriders loaded the bases with no one out and only pushed one across to bring game two's final score to 7-4 in favor of Cochise. 

Out of the pen, sophomore righty Jace Taylor tossed a scoreless eighth inning. 

At the plate, Zeigler had two hits while Taylor, Bartee, Gyselman, freshman infielder Rocco Gump, freshman infielder Ethan Thomas and sophomore infielder Travis Warinner all had one. 

Up Next
The Roughriders are back in action on Saturday, February 26, in Phoenix, Arizona, where they will play the South Mountain Community College Cougars in an ACCAC doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for noon.