Cougars Hold On for 4-3 Win Over Cerritos College

Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

College of the Canyons tasted both victory and defeat on Wednesday, dropping a 6-5 extra innings decision to Cerritos College in a game that originally started back on Jan. 30, then followed with a 4-3 win in the regularly scheduled contest at Cougar Field.

In the second outing, Canyons (6-4) received another superb start from sophomore lefty Jacob Lopez (1-1), who tossed seven innings of one-run baseball, scattering four hits and issuing three walks, while striking out seven Cerritos batters.

The Cougars aided Lopez' effort by scoring runs in the first and second innings, then added two more in the fifth.

Sophomore Calvin Estrada got things started with an RBI-single in the first that scored Trace Eldridge. In the second inning, Ryan Mendoza extended his arms for a solo shot to right field.

In the fifth it was more Eldridge, who singled to score Senituli Taufahema and make it a 3-1 ballgame. Two batters later, Estrada ripped a double to center field, pushing the lead to 4-1.

Estrada finished the game 2-for-4 to lead Canyons at the plate. Alberto Lopez and Taufahema also recorded two hits apiece.

Connor Dreyer recorded the six-out save, his first of the year, but did allow a two-run home run by Cerritos center fielder Nick Penzetta to make it a 4-3 final score.

Canyons started the day by completing its road contest vs. Cerritos that started back on Jan. 30, but had to be suspended with a 5-5 score in the 10th inning due to darkness. In that game, the Falcons were able to break the tie with an RBI-single by Rollie Nichols in the bottom of the 10th.

The Cougars will return to action at 12 p.m. on Saturday to host Chaffey College.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.