Cougars Post Second Straight Shutout, Beat West L.A. 8-0

CULVER CITY, Calif. — College of the Canyons pitcher Collin Dudley turned in a stellar nine innings of work to help the Cougars post a second consecutive shutout, this time defeating West L.A. College 8-0 to win their fourth straight.

Dudley frustrated the West L.A. bats all afternoon allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out four batters.

Over his last three starts, Dudley (3-0) has posted a microscopic 0.87 ERA, striking out 18 hitters in 23 2/3 innings.

Head coach Chris Cota's lineup erupted in the fourth inning for five runs to break the game open for COC.

In the top of the fourth inning, with COC already leading 1-0, a single by Colton Burns scored Tyler Ryan to make the score 2-0. Jose Haros followed that up with a double to score Jake Ryan who walked earlier in the inning for a 3-0 lead.

COC's leading hitter, Roy Verdejo, then singled to bring in two more runs for a 5-0 lead.

The Cougars would add one more run to go up by six at the end of the inning and were on their way to another conference victory.

Verdejo went 2-for-4 with two RBI on the game to bring his season total to 21 to lead the Western State Conference. He also leads the conference in home runs (6) and batting average (.468).

The win improves COC's record to 11-5 overall and keeps the Cougars undefeated in Western State Conference, South division matchups at 4-0.

The Cougars will next face L.A. Mission College at 2:30 p.m. Cougar Field Thursday, March 12.