"We played well defensively, and as good as they are stealing bases, they didn't get any on us." said head coach Anthony Gilich after the Central Arizona College 5-2 win over South Mountain Community College Friday afternoon in Phoenix.

"It was a clean game, Grant came through for us again and we had a good sixth inning when we needed it."

Grant Townsend won his ninth game and it came at a time when Central needed it, the Vaqueros are now two games out of second place with five left. The two tangle again Saturday at 12 noon at The Big House.

After a walk and a yank in the bottom of the first, Townsend walked only one more and went the final eight innings almost tirelessly. When you strike out the first two batters in the ninth, that tells it. Townsend now leads the ACCAC in wins, ERA, and is second in strikeouts.

With a 3-2 lead entering the sixth, the Cowboys went long ball and suicide squeeze pushing two more runs in for the final of 5-2. Andrew Chartrand got the call and came through laying down a nice one scoring Makoa Rosario. The season has proven that it's awfully difficult to keep Rosario from touching the plate if he's on third. He's stolen home this year. Jake Vander Wal hit his second solo homerun of the year in the same inning. 

Chris Diehl and Alix Garcia both doubled and had two hits, Roger Varela singled twice and Chartand also doubled. 

It's Ryley Widell starting Saturday for Central.