Cougars Power Past Chaffey 12-9

Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

College of the Canyons powered past visiting Chaffey College 12-9 on Saturday, after capitalizing on an eight-run seventh inning that helped the Cougars overcome an early four-run disadvantage.

Canyons (7-4) churned out 14 hits in the contest, including home runs from Trace Eldridge, Eddie Rodriguez and Calvin Estrada, to win for the sixth time in the last seven games.

The 12 runs plated by the Cougars represented a season high, as did the 14 hits, six walks and 11 RBIs. All but one member of the COC starting lineup recorded a hit, with seven of nine also notching RBIs.

Senituli Taufahema and Ivan Lomeli led the way with three hits and two RBIs each.

Rodriguez finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs, including his third inning solo home run.

Estrada also had a big day finishing 2-for-5 with two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. His two-run shot in the seventh gave COC a 9-8 lead, which was later added to with an RBI-double from Ryan Mendoza and Lomeli.

COC ended the seventh inning with a 12-8 advantage, before Chaffey (3-9) was able to push across a lone run in the eighth to make it a 12-9 final score.

The Panthers also scoffed three runs in the third and five in the fifth, but could not hold onto the lead.

Justin King (2-0) got the win for Canyons after throwing three and 1/3 innings of relief, striking out three batters along the way.

Jackson Cunningham got the start for COC and lasted four innings. He allowed five earned runs on five hits and two walks, while also hitting four batters.

Jarret Poh earned his first save of the year after working the top of the ninth inning and striking out two.

Canyons continues is two-game set with Chaffey in Rancho Cucamonga at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

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.