By Jim Richards

The SMCC baseball ran into a hot pitcher for a second straight day and were eliminated from further postseason play Friday afternoon.

One day after failing to knock out two-time ACCAC Player of the Year Josh Spence in the series opener, Central right-hander Jason Mitchell shut down the Cougars' bats through eight innings of work as Central posted a 10-2 victory to win the best-of-three NJCAA Region I Div.II series in two games.

Mitchell allowed a solo homer to Adam Bailey in the first inning, but allowed only two more hits through eight innings. Brandon Macias homered off reliever Jerry Ahearn, also a solo-shot, in the ninth.

Just as in the first game, a critical infield error opened the floodgates for Central, this time in a three-run third inning off hard-luck Cougars'
starter Shane Dyer.

Mitchell was able to Cougar hitters to bounce into three double plays to eliminate any Cougar threats.

The Cougars held a 4-2 lead on Spence in the series opener and had ace Daniel Romero on the mound. But Kevin Lovelace and Jesus Arzaga, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the Central order, hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning. An infield error in the eighth led to an unearned run in a Central
5-4 win.

Central advances to play Yavapai College, a winner over Cochise College in two games.