Canyons Wins Home Opener 8-3 Over Rio Hondo

The College of the Canyons baseball team in still undefeated, after an 8-3 win over Rio Hondo College in Tuesday's 'Home Opener' to cap a two-game sweep of the Roadrunners.

Canyons (4-0) is currently the No. 14 ranked team in the state according to the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) preseason poll.

The Roadrunners entered the season as the No. 10 ranked in the state, but have yet to find the win column at 0-5. 

The Cougars have scored 41 runs through the first four games of the season. Included in that total was a season-high 16-run output vs. Rio Hondo on Feb. 6. COC won that game 16-6.

On Tuesday, head coach Chris Cota's lineup pounded out 13 hits and two home runs to prevail over RHC pitcher Joe Willis.

COC outfielder Roy Verdejo, a preseason All-American honoree, launched a no-doubt home run off of Willis in the third inning which put Canyons up 2-0. 

But the Roadrunners answered right back in the following frame to tag Canyons starter Cy Scott for three runs, one unearned, and reclaim the lead at 3-2.

Canyons tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI single by shortstop JD Krauskopf.

Scott labored a bit in the top of the sixth inning, before eventually giving way to COC relief pitcher Dylan Suppan who pitched out of the jam and ended the Roadrunner rally.

Scott threw 5 and 2/3 innings, surrendered six hits and one walk while striking out four batters.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning COC freshman catcher Anthony Lepre clubbed another home run to break the tie at 4-3.

Then, after a double by outfielder Chris McCready, Krauskopf singled to left field to score the runner from second base. Krauskopf, who also stole a base in the inning, finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and two RBIs.

Suppan stayed on the mound for two more scoreless innings, en route to his first win of the season. He struck out one batter along the way.

Canyons tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning when Verdejo ripped a triple to clear the basses and make it a five-run COC advantage.

Verdejo finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBIs. 

The Cougars hill host Allan Hancock College on Thursday afternoon in the second game of a four-game homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.