Cougars Comeback 6-4 Over Orange Coast
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons scored four runs in the seventh to turn a late two-run deficit into a 6-4 victory over visiting Orange Coast College on Tuesday.
The win halted a two-game slide for Canyons (7-6) after losing both games in its road-and-home series vs. Santa Ana College last week.
Jake Schwartz' solo home run in the fourth put Canyons on the board at 1-0 and started an inning in which Evan Jaquez then singled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch to go ahead 2-0.
COC starter Joseph Jasso pitched a scoreless five innings allowing six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
In the top of the sixth inning the Pirates were finally able to do some damage vs. the Cougars bullpen. Leadoff man Owen Wessel's grand slam off reliever Jon Bahr put the game at 4-2 in Orange Coast's favor.
Bahr pitched 1 and 2/3 before handing the ball to Harish Balachondron who recorded the final out of the seventh.
In the home half of the inning Colin Yeaman homered to bring COC within a run at 4-3. Later it was Jayden Steinhurst with a sac-fly that plated Charlie Rocca to tie the game at 4-4.
Jaquez added the final exclamation point with his two-run single that scored Schwartz and Angelo Aleman for the eventual 6-4 final.
Luke Lemmond pitched a scoreless eighth inning before Schwartz took the mound via first base to record the final three outs and pick up his first save of the season. Balachondron was credited with the win.
Top Performers
- Angelo Aleman —2-for-4, R
Joseph Jasso — 5 IP, 3 BB, 6 H, 5 K - Evan Jaquez — 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI
- Jake Schwartz — 1-for-3, BB, HR, RBI, R
- Colin Yeaman — 2-for-4, BB, HR, RBI, R
Upcoming Schedule
The Cougars remain home to host Cypress College at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29.
The series then shifts back to Cypress, where the Cougars and Chargers will match up once more at 2 p.m. Friday, March 1.
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 X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
—Photo by Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information