By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director   

Colin Yeaman had a five-RBI day, including a walk-off grand slam, as College of the Canyons responded to back-to-back losses with an 8-4 victory over L.A. Valley College on Saturday.

Canyons (11-9, 4-2) scored first on Yeaman's RBI base hit in the first but had to battle back to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth, and then repeat that feat to even things up at 4-4 in the seventh.

Andy Ambriz homered for Canyons in the seventh to set up the dramatic showdown with Yeaman in the ninth. The home run was Ambriz' fourth of the season, tied with Yeaman for the club lead. 

Earlier it was Aaron Ruvalcaba's two-run double bringing home Alex Sepulveda and Ambriz for a 3-3 ballgame in the fifth. 

In the ninth, Charlie Rocca singled to lead off the inning ahead of a double from Jake Schwartz. LAVC then elected to walk Ambriz to load the bases ahead of Yeaman's big knock.

Gavino Rosales started the game and pitched the first six innings for Canyons. He scattered seven hits and struck out a batter vs. an LAVC lineup that plated four unearned runs. The Cougars' infield committed three errors to help keep the Monarchs in the game. 

Xavier Stoker tossed 1 and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with two hits, a walk and a strikeout. Schwartz (1-0) earned the win after throwing the final 1 and 1/3.

L.A. Valley (13-9, 5-1) had taken the first two games in the series, first winning 8-3 in Thursday's opener and taking a 9-7 result the following day. 

Saturday's win by the Cougars snapped the Monarchs' six-game win streak. 

Top Performers

• Andy Ambriz – 1-for-3, 2 BB, HR, 3 R, RBI
• Gavino Rosales – 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, K
• Aaron Ruvalcaba – 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
• Jake Schwartz – 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI / W (1-0), 1.1 IP, H, BB
• Colin Yeaman – 4-for-5, walk-off Grand Slam, R, 5 RBI

Upcoming Schedule

The Cougars are scheduled to begin a three-game series with L.A. Mission College on Thursday, March 23. The matchup had been slated to get underway Tuesday but was postponed due to rain in the forecast.

The series will now start in Sylmar with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch on Thursday. The action continues back at Canyons on Friday at 2:30 p.m. with the finale set for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25. 

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.

—Photo by Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information