COC Pitchers Shut Down S.D. Mesa in 8-2 Victory
Starting pitcher Collin Dudley throws six strong innings to earn the win.
Six strong innings from pitcher Collin Dudley and three innings of one-hit bullpen relief lifted College of the Canyons to an 8-2 victory over San Diego Mesa College at Cougar Field on Saturday.
The Cougars pounced on San Diego Mesa starting pitcher Matt Osborne early, and chased him in three innings after clawing out seven runs (five unearned) on six hits and two walks. Osborne wasn't helped by sloppy play in the infield either.
The Cougars struck first in the second inning after loading the bases with two outs, when outfielder Tyler Ryan scored on a passed ball to give COC a 1-0 lead.
The next batter, Jose Haros, reached safely after an error before Mesa pitcher Kyle Abblitt allowed two more COC runners to score. The Cougars led 3-0 after two innings.
In the bottom of the third, Canyons loaded the bases again after Tyler Ryan was hit by a pitch. Next up, catcher Jake Ryan was also hit by a pitch, scoring outfielder Roy Verdejo on the play to make it 4-0.
COC's next batter, Colton Burns, then singled up the middle to score Jassen Oliver for a 5-0 Cougar lead.
Another San Diego Mesa passed ball and a Haros single would score two more runs in the inning, putting COC up 7-0 after three innings.
Haros led the COC lineup going 2-for-5, collecting three RBI and scoring a run. Verdejo collected three hits in five plate appearances, walked and scored a run.
Dudley allowed a Mesa solo home run in the sixth inning, but it was only his fourth hit allowed during his six innings of work. In earning the victory for COC, Dudley allowed two earned runs while striking out two batters and walking one.
COC pitchers Chad Haslock and Michael Metz would then go on to pitch three innings of shutout relief while allowing only one hit combined.
Haslock faced the minimum six batters in his two innings of work and tallied three strikeouts.
From there, the Cougars cruised to the 8-2 win.
The victory makes it two straight for Canyons, giving head coach Chris Cota's team a 4-2 record on the season.