Suns Stop No. 9 Thunderducks for Second Straight Day

LANCASTER, Texas – Dallas College Cedar Valley knocked off No. 9 Dallas College Richland for the second straight day, winning 9-6 Saturday to secure the three-game series.

The Suns, who are receiving votes in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III rankings, split the six-game regular season series with the Thunderducks, each winning three games. Cedar Valley (35-17, 15-12 Dallas Athletic Conference) sits three games behind Richland (30-20, 18-9) entering the final week of the regular season.

The Suns will play a three-game series against Dallas College Brookhaven, beginning noon Wednesday at home. Following a nonconference doubleheader at Dallas Christian College Junior Varsity Monday, the Thunderducks finish the league schedule with a three-game series against Dallas College Mountain View, beginning noon Wednesday on the road.

Cedar Valley starting pitcher Caleb Pacheco (10-1) went the distance Saturday, allowing six runs, two of which were earned, on nine hits and a walk. He had three strikeouts. Pacheco's 10 victories leads NJCAA Division III. His 10 wins also tied the school single season record.

The Suns scored five runs in the second inning to grab a four-run lead. After Cedar Valley picked up a run in the bottom of the third, the Thunderducks answered with two in the fourth to cut it to 6-3. The Suns scored three more in the eighth, and Richland put up three of its own in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough.

Cedar Valley's Blaine Thomas went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in. Ryan Talley went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Jaquavius Davis was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Elian Gonzales had two hits, a walk and an RBI in four plate appearances. Samuel Massi had two hits, and scored twice in five at-bats.

Richland's Taylor Hendrix went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Kelton Phillips was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Suns are two wins away from tying the school season record of 37 set in 2017.