Cougars Bounce Back 6-5 Over Southwestern to Stay Alive at SoCal Super Regional
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By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
CHULA VISTA — College of the Canyons bounced back from a painful opening-game loss to get a crucial 6-5 victory over host Southwestern College in game 2 of the CCCAA Southern California Super Regional on Thursday.
The win keeps Canyons (25-17) alive for at least another day in the three-team, double-elimination tournament.
The No. 2 tourney seed Cougars were forced to pick themselves off the mat to face No. 1 Southwestern (24-18) mere moments after a seeing a five-run lead slip away in an 8-7 loss to No. 2 Grossmont College in Thursday's Super Regional opener.
COC head coach Chris Cota handed the ball to Josh Yosfan as the game two starter and the sophomore responded marvelously, holding the Southwestern lineup at bay for six innings before being pulled after walking the first batter to lead off the seventh.
Yosfan scattered five hits and issued two walks while striking out four batters along the way, but did not factor into the decision.
Canyons scored its first run in the third inning on an RBI-double from Dane Flashberg that brought in Ryan Camacho at 1-0. In the fifth it was Charlie Rocca finding a way to get another run in on an RBI ground out that plated Flashberg for a 2-0 advantage.
The Jaguars attempted to pounce on the Cougars bullpen' after Yosfan's exit, scoring runs on an RBI sac-fly and a wild pitch from reliever Xavier Stoker that tied the game at 2-2 but were never able to move ahead.
In the next inning Alex Sepulveda singled in a run and a Southwestern throwing error combined to let Andy Ambriz come home putting Canyons back on top 4-2.
Ambriz, who has been on a tear since late March, also homered in the ninth inning to secure two more important runs for the Cougars at 6-2.
Southwestern mounted one last rally in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs Adrian Hinojosa doubled home a pair of runs, before Aaaron Garcia singled to score Hinojosa and put the game at 6-5. COC reliever Harish Balachondron was able to get the final out on a line drive to second that ended the game.
Stoker (2-1) earned the victory for Canyons. Southwestern reliever Adrian Sanchez (4-3) took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits.
Top Performers
- Andy Ambriz — 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Dane Flashberg — 2-for-4 2 2B, R, RBI
- Alex Sepulveda — 2-for-4, RBI
- Xavier Stoker — W (2-1), 2 IP, H, ER, BB
- Colin Yeaman — 2-for-3, BB, R
- Josh Yosfan — 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Upcoming Schedule
Grossmont (23-17) and Southwestern (24-18) will begin day two at 11 a.m. Friday, May 12. A loss by the Jaguars would end that program's postseason run.
Regardless of that outcome, Canyons and Grossmont will play a second contest beginning at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday.
A loss by COC would eliminate the Cougars from the playoffs. A win by Canyons would set up a Saturday afternoon matchup.
The final team standing advances to the Southern California Regional Final being played May 18-20.
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.