Canyons Pushes Streak to Four with Extra Innings Win at Citrus

College of the Canyons won its fourth game in a row, requiring 11 innings to down host Citrus College in a back-and-forth 5-4 ballgame in Glendora on Thursday.

Canyons (11-8, 4-0) has now won four straight games to begin the Western State Conference (WSC), East Division portion of its schedule. The win also represented the third extra innings victory of the year for COC.

The Cougars were on the verge of closing things out in the ninth before Citrus (11-9-1, 3-1) loaded the bases and got one home on a hit batter to tie the game at 4-4. 

The two teams played out a scoreless 10th inning, but in the 11th sophomore Wes Felber drew a two-out walk to keep the Cougars at the plate. Ivan Lomeli doubled to move Felber along to third, with Senituli Taufahema then reaching base on an infield error which allowed Felber to score. 

Felber finished the game 4-for-5 with a walk.

COC reliever Sean Ward (2-0) earned the win after throwing two and 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one. Connor Dreyer picked up his fourth save after retiring the final two batters.

Canyons started Justin Dehn tossed the first five innings, allowing one earned run and walking four. The sophomore also recorded nine strikeouts in the game.

Jack Kernochan and Jarret Poh also made appearances for the Cougars. COC pitchers combined to strike out 15 Citrus batters in a game that saw four lead changes.

The Owls were first to cross home plate in the first inning, but COC quickly tied the game at 1-1 in the second on a sacrifice fly from Lomeli. The freshman shortstop finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Cole Kleszcz helped chip away with an RBI single. In the seventh, Kris Keach plated an unearned run to get the Cougars even at 3-3.

COC sophomore Chris May hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth that looked like it might have been the game winner, until Citrus sent the action into extra innings. 

Anthony Lepre was 3-for-5 and Kris Keach went 2-for-6 with two runs scored.

Canyons will return to Cougar field on Saturday, March 18, for a 1 p.m. conference matchup vs. Glendale College.