Canyons Scores Big Win In Postseason Opener vs. Orange Coast

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

COSTA MESA — No. 19 College of the Canyons didn't score its first run until the sixth inning but still came away with a lopsided 16-6 road victory over No. 6 Orange Coast College in the opener of a best-of-three CCCAA Southern California Regional Playoff series.

Canyons (23-16) trailed 4-0 entering the top half of the sixth before erupting for five runs in a traditional Cougar style big inning that came at the expense of the Pirates (25-15). Andrew Allanson got the scoring started with an RBI sac-fly. After a double from Colin Yeaman and walk by Jake Schwartz the Pirates' starter M.J. Gabaldon was chased from the game. 

Orange Coast reliever Lyndon Glidewell then walked Alex Sepulveda which brought home another run before Ryan Camacho singled in two more in the following sequence. Later in the inning it was Jovan Camacho with an infield single that plated a run to give Canyons a 5-4 advantage. 

Glidewell (2-1) was eventually charged with the loss after allowing a run on a hit and two walks. Gabaldon had been in control through the early going before the decisive sixth inning. He tossed five and 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five batters.

COC starter Gavino Rosales (5-0) remained unbeaten with his six innings of postseason work. The sophomore allowed four runs on nine hits with three walks. Rosales also struck out six Pirates batters. 

Malakai Correll and Xavier Stoker combined to close things out the rest of the way. Correll pitched one and 2/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits including a home run. Stoker closed the game with two strikeouts in his one and 1/3 innings.

The Cougars tacked on two more runs in the seventh on a fielder's choice from Schwartz that brought in a run and another sac-fly, this time coming from Sepulveda that made it a 7-4 ballgame.

COC extended its lead again in the eighth when Jovan Camacho scored on a passed ball. An RBI-single from Allanson and a third scoring sac-fly, this time from Yeaman, put Canyons in clear control at 10-4.

A two-run home run in the eighth from OCC right fielder Jaden Lyburtus gave the Pirates brief hope at 10-6, but that was quickly extinguished when Dane Flashberg answered back with a two-run knock of his own to put the game at 12-6.

Andy Ambriz, the 2023 Western State Conference (WSC), South Division Player of the Year, got in on the action with a run-scoring base hit in the ninth that extended his RBI streak to 17 games. Ambriz has also hit safely in the last 17 contests dating back to March 25. Schwartz then cleared the bases with a three-run double for the eventual 16-6 final score.

Top Performers

• Andrew Allanson – 2-for3, BB, SAC-fly, R, 2 RBI
• Andy Ambriz – 3-for-5, BB, 4 R, RBI
• Ryan Camacho – 2-for-3, SAC, R, 2 RBI
• Gavino Rosales – W (5-0), 6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
• Jake Schwartz – 1-for-5, BB, 2B, R, 4 RBI
• Alex Sepulveda – 1-for-4, BB, SAC-fly, R 2 RBI

Upcoming Schedule

Canyons and OCC continue the best-of-three series with game two Saturday, May 6 at John Altobelli Park in Costa Mesa. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. If necessary, a third game would be played approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two.

The winner of the series advances to the double-elimination SoCal Super Regionals May 11-13.

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 Kyle Kawamoto/COC Sports Information