Cougars Knock off Defending State Champs Orange Coast, Win 7th Straight

COC sophomore center fielder Chris McCready lifts Cougars with extra innings walk-off hit.

Cougars Knock off Defending State Champs Orange Coast, Win 7th Straight

Team Stats

February 17, 2016

The College of the Canyons baseball team went the distance with defending California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state champions Orange Coast College on Tuesday, eventually coming away with a 6-5 extra innings victory.

Canyons (7-0) jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the Pirates, but the champs answered right back with a rally of their own, plating four runs in the top of the fifth inning.

The Cougars scored two runs each in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. 

Freshman catcher Anthony Lepre hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to help the Cougars regain the lead at 5-4. But back-to-back singles by the Pirates in the top of the seventh evened the score once again.

In the top of the tenth, OCC looked to be on the brink of a big inning, but stranded three base runners to give Canyons the opportunity it needed. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Canyons came up with two singles, two stolen bases and a walk to load the bases for sophomore center fielder Chris McCready.

McCready promptly pummeled a ball into deep center field to give Canyons the walk-off win. 

Lepre led all batters with his three hits, including the home run.

McCready, sophomores Roy Verdejo and Wyatt Hoppie, and freshman Chad Bible each went 2-for-4 combining for eight of the team's 12 hits.

Sophomore Jacob Musial started the game and threw four and 1/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs and fanning two batters. 

COC relievers Dylan Suppan, Troy Pober and Armando Esparza pitched the rest of the way. Esparza (2-0) picked up the win in his one inning of work.

The Cougars return to the diamond Thursday, Feb. 18, when they travel to face Allan Hancock College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.