Cloney Leads Cougars to 2-1 Road Win

The College of the Canyons baseball team rode a strong performance from starting pitcher J.C. Cloney to a 2-1 road victory over Allan Hancock on Thursday.

In seven innings of work Cloney tossed eight strikeouts, while allowing just one earned run on three hits. The win moved the sophomore to 2-1 on the season with a 1.42 ERA and 17 strikeouts.

Allan Hancock got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, when lead off hitter Colby Barric scored on a wild pitch, after singling to start the inning.

A Roy Verdejo double in the fourth inning knotted things at 1-1 for COC, before the Cougars took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when Tyler Ryan scored on a wild pitch.

Verdejo is on a tear to begin the season for the Cougars, with the outfielder hitting .571 with two home runs and eight RBI's.

The win moves COC to 5-2 on the year, with two of those wins coming at the expense of the Bulldogs. Canyons previously defeated Allan Hancock 13-2 Feb. 5, at Cougar Field.

Through seven games, the Cougars have allowed more than three runs in a game just once.

COC will next host Cerro Coso College at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Cougar Field.