Freyre's Late Hit Lifts Canyons Over AVC 5-4

A Dylan Freyre single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, lifted College of the Canyons to a thrilling 5-4 victory over Antelope Valley College in the team's Western State Conference (WSC), South division opener on Tuesday afternoon.

The final at bat finished off a game where both teams came back to tie the score in the following inning. 

COC starter Collin Dudley pitched into the seventh inning, but left after six and two-thirds innings allowing seven hits, three runs, three walks and seven strikeouts.

With the score tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Antelope Valley took the lead with a Jose Tejada single to give Antelope Valley a 3-2 lead. The Cougars would answer in their half of the inning.

With runners on first and second base and two outs, Freyre singled to right field scoring Colton Burns to tie the game at 3-3.

One batter later, the Cougars took a 4-3 lead when Antelope Valley pitcher Shawn Hunt balked to advance the runners a base, scoring Jose Haros from third base.

Antelope Valley tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the ninth, thanks to a balk by Haros who moved from shortstop to pitcher at the start of the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, COC would load the bases and Freyre knocked in the game-winning run, scoring Tyler Ryan from third base to give COC its first win of the conference schedule.

Freyre's two late-inning hits helped cap off a strong day at the plate, finishing the game 3-for-5 with three RBIs. He's batting .400 on the season with 15 RBIs.

Haros went 1-for-5 and scored a run. He also was credited with his first victory of the season after replacing Chad Haslock in relief in the ninth inning.

The win gives COC head coach Chris Cota's squad an 8-5 overall record.

Canyons next faces Citrus College at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.