Canyons Keeps Bakersfield at Bay with 7-1 Home Win

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

Oscar Patron was near flawless for the full nine innings and Jayden Steinhurst clubbed a pair of home runs as College of the Canyons earned its second straight conference victory with a convincing 7-1 home win over Bakersfield College on Tuesday. 

Canyons (10-9, 3-1) used the win to move back over the .500 mark and has now emerged victorious in three of its last four contests.

Patron's performance included a season-best 10 strikeouts against three hits and a pair of walks. He earned the win and was charged with one earned run while facing 32 batters. Following a Bakersfield run in the first inning Patron (2-3) was near flawless the rest of the way. 

Evan Jaquez got the scoring started for COC with an RBI double that tied the game at 1-1 in the first.

Later, it was Steinhurst connecting on his first big knock of the game, a two-run shot that scored Angelo Aleman and moved the Cougars ahead 3-1. His homer started a span in which Canyons lifted off on back-to-back-to-back home runs. Jaquez and Hudson Story both connected for solo shots to put the home team ahead 5-1.

Steinhurst added a final dagger with a two-run bomb that brought in Charlie Rocca for the final 7-1 score.

Bakersfield (4-15, 2-2) has now lost back-to-back games. Starter John Alderate (1-2) suffered the loss for his five innings of work which included nine hits and three walks with five earned runs and four strikeouts.

Top Performers

• Angelo Aleman — 2-for-4, BB, 2 R
• Evan Jaquez — 2-for-3, BB, 2B, HR R, 2 RBI
• Jayden Steinhurst — 3-for-4, BB, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
• Hudson Story — 1-for-2, 2 BB, HR, R, RBI
• Oscar Patron — W (2-3), 9 IP, ER, 2 BB, 3 H, 10 K

Upcoming Schedule

Canyons continues its three-game series with Bakersfield on the road Thursday, March 14. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. 

 The series vs. the Renegades concludes Saturday, March 16 back in Santa Clarita with a scheduled 2 p.m. start. That game will be broadcast to fans on the Cougars Sports Network.

Gillespie Field Dedication

The COC Athletic Department will host a field dedication ceremony to unveil the recently named Mike Gillespie Field in honor of the legendary baseball coach's distinguished career.

The festivities begin at noon Saturday, March 16, with a pre-game luncheon in the Cougar Den followed by an on-field dedication ceremony beginning at 1:15 p.m. First pitch of the game between Bakersfield College and Canyons will follow at 2 p.m.

As part of the celebration Coach Gillespie's former players, staff members, coaching colleagues, family, friends and supporters are invited to attend the ceremony. Admission is free, with attendees asked to RSVP in advance here.

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 Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information