Canyons Wins 9-4 at Glendale
The Cougars (15-15, 7-7) rallied for six runs in the fifth to help put the Vaqueros away.
Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
GLENDALE, Calif. — College of the Canyons halted a two-game skid with a 9-4 road win over conference rival Glendale College on Saturday.
Canyons (15-15, 7-7) had dropped the first two games of the series before bouncing back to down the Vaqueros (20-10, 11-3) in the finale.
COC trailed 3-0 in the early going before a six-run fifth inning that included RBIs from Tyler Erne, Felix Brandt, Brendan Henry and Nate Duarte. That outburst put the game at 6-3 and was quickly followed by a three-run rally in the sixth.
Once again it was the combination of Erne, Brandt and Brendan Henry doing the damage. Erne doubled home Adam Hopkins to start the barrage and Brandt followed with an RBI groundout that brought home another run. Henry then traded his out for a run with an infield ground ball that scored Erne for a 9-3 lead.
Henry finished with a game-high three RBIs. Erne was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Hopkins and Nick Henry both scored a pair of runs for the Cougars. Brandt recorded a pair of RBIs on a 2-for-5 day and Duarte plated two with his double in the fifth.
COC reliever Matt Serrano (1-0) got the win for his four innings of work. The freshman allowed one run on three hits and struck out two. Serrano took over for starter Alex Ravago who battled through the first four innings. Ravago walked three and gave up a two-run home run in the fourth to leave the game trailing 3-0.
Glendale was able to manufacture a run in the bottom of the ninth but could get no closer, ending the game 9-4.
Despite the loss, the first-place Vaqueros win the season series vs. COC 3-1. Prior to Saturday's finale Glendale defeated Canyons by lopsided scores of 24-3 on Tuesday and 11-1 on Thursday.
The third-place Cougars will next begin a three-game set with Victor Valley College beginning Tuesday, April 9 in Victor Valley. Action shifts back to Cougar Field for a 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, with the finale slated for Friday at the Rams' yard.
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.