No. 3 Canyons Knocks off Antelope Valley 6-3 in Home Finale

The College of the Canyons baseball team picked up a 6-3 home win vs. Antelope Valley College on Thursday, as the Cougars played their final regular season home game.

Canyons (27-8, 14-6) posted a 15-2 record at Cougar Field in 2016. COC will now conclude the regular season on the road Friday, in the final game of a three-game series with the Marauders.

On Thursday, the Cougars trailed 2-0 before catcher Anthony Lepre singled in Darren Kriz to make a one run ballgame. After a double by Jake Spurlin, Lepre eventually came around to score on a wild pitch by AVC hurler Shawn Hunt and make it 2-2. 

The Marauders briefly took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning when COC pitcher Chase Wheatcroft surrendered an RBI single, before eventually giving way to Cougar reliever Troy Prober.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning Canyons scored four runs on three hits to make it a 6-3 affair.

After a walk by Roy Verdejo and a double from Lepre, Spurlin singled to bring in both COC base runners.

Two batters later Chris McCready doubled to bring home Spurlin. Later in the inning Colton Burns added another run with a sacrifice fly that scored Wyatt Hoppie.

Spurlin and Lepre both finished the game 3-for-4. Lepre also scored twice while Spurlin recorded two RBIs.

The flurry of offense helped give Prober, who went on to pitch two and 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, the win.

Wheatcroft finished the game with five and 1/3 innings of work while striking out six batters.

COC reliever Sean Ward picked up the save after recording the final three outs.

The victory gives COC the series win vs. AVC, to set up Friday's regular season finale in Lancaster.