BASEBALL

Martin went six innings in game two, allowing one run and six hits, while striking out seven. Ligda came on for the three-inning save, which he concluded by striking out the side in the ninth to seal the second victory of the day.

The key on the mound for AWC coach Drew Keehn was “the ability to get ahead of hitters and get the first guy out of the inning out. (Martin) walked two guys in a row and walked the go-ahead run in (in the sixth inning); that was a little disappointing. … But all in all, we threw strikes and we got ahead of hitters.”

The offensive side of things was light for the Matadors (35-17, 17-15 ACCAC) on Saturday. The one exception was catcher Yodelvy Merendez. In the fifth inning of game one, after Franky Chavez and Manny Perez singled in a 1-1 game, Merendez’s double to center field scored both to give AWC a 3-1 lead it would hold for the rest of the contest.

In game two, Merendez

delivered in the bottom of the eighth when the Matadors trailed, 1-0. The freshman crushed a two-run home run to left field to, for the second time on the day, give AWC a lead it would hold.

“It’s nice that it’s him, because he’s been consistent and worked all year, and hasn’t had the opportunity up until late. It’s nice to see a kid get rewarded when he puts the work in.”

Merendez went 2-for-5 on the day with four RBIs.

The two wins were big for AWC’s postseason hopes. Yavapai split with Cochise on Saturday, putting the Roughriders and Matadors at a tie in conference record heading into their doubleheader Tuesday. The top four teams make it into the conference playoffs, and AWC and Yavapai are tied for fourth after Saturday.

“Our guys know if we win the next four in a row, we’ve got a really good shot,” Keehn said. “We’re in if we win the next four, and they know that.”

There are four games left on the schedule for each team, with each playing another doubleheader Saturday.