Cougars Complete Sweep 11-10 in Extras vs. SBCC

Story and photos by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons swept its non-conference doubleheader vs. Santa Barbara City College on Saturday, with the Cougars pulling out a thrilling 11-10 comeback victory in extra innings of game two.

With the game tied 10-10 after nine innings the two teams played the final frame under tiebreaker rules, meaning each side would begin the inning with a runner at second base.

In the bottom of the 10th, COC freshman Sammie Burleson trotted out to second base. A few pitches later Burleson came around to score on a passed ball that skidded to the backstop and sent the Cougars spilling out of the dugout in celebration.

COC overcame two different four-run deficits to pull off the comeback after SBCC jumped on Cougar starter Joy Veloz to open up a 4-0 first-inning lead.

Canyons tied the game at 4-4 an inning later with a string of hits that included a solo home run from Sienna Vannoy, an RBI single from Katie Clinkunbroomer and a two-run single from Heidi Ludy.

The Vaqueros then answered back with four more in the third to retake control at 8-4.

COC lefty Megan Wilson entered in the fourth and worked three and 1/3 innings of steady relief as the Cougars chipped away at the Santa Barbara advantage, scoring runs in each of the final four innings.

In the seventh, it was Jordan Vallejo scoring from third on a passed ball to tie the game at 10-10.

Veloz (7-2) reentered the game in the seventh and pitched the rest of the way to eventually pick up the win. She finished with seven strikeouts and was charged with seven earned runs in six and 2/3 innings of work.

Ludy finished 2-for-4 with a sacrifice, a walk, a triple and four RBIs. She also stole two bases.

Kayla Yamane was 3-for-6 with a double and a pair of runs. Clinkunbroomer finished 1-for-3 with three walks, a run and two RBIs. Rend Edwards was 1-for-2 with three walks and three runs.

Canyons (19-11, 10-0) has now won four of its last five games. The Cougars also defeated SBCC 9-4 in the opener. 

Veloz earned the win with a four-inning start that included two walks and two strikeouts. At the plate, Edwards recorded three doubles and came around to score three times, while Ludy finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, after swiping three bases.

The Cougars will return to conference play on Tuesday, April 10 vs. host West L.A. 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.