Taft College scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning but the Cougars couldn't overcome a six-run deficit and fell 10-7 in the opening game of a Central Valley Conference doubleheader at Reedley College on Friday. TC closed out a tough afternoon with a 16-0, seven-inning loss to the Tigers in Game 2.
Game 1 saw the Cougars score their most runs in a game since an April 21 loss (13-8) to Reedley while their 11 hits were also their second highest this season.
Chris Ortega hit an RBI single in the top of the first to score Andres Garza to give TC an early 1-0 lead. Reedley added three runs in the bottom of the first off Taft starter Jordan Eldred before the Cougars came right back and put up two runs in the top of the second.
Garza knocked in Izzy Halton with a single and Damien Holmes came in to score on a wild pitch to even up the contest at 3-3.
But Reedley went up for good with a two-run, third-inning and blew the game open with four runs in the fourth.
Down 10-4 in the ninth, the Cougars rallied for three runs and sent the go-ahead run to the plate. Garza led off the frame with a walk and promptly came in to score on a triple by Chris Scherbart. With one out, R.J. Munoz' groundout allowed Scherbart to score.
Ortega singled to continue the rally while Genta Yamazaki reached base by error and Blake Logan laced a base hit to load the bases. Halton collected his third hit of the game, an infield single, to drive in Ortega and keep the bases full. But pinch hitter Julian DeLeon grounded out to end the TC threat and the ball game.
Garza had a good game at the plate, going a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs, a pair of RBI and a walk. Halton went 3 for 5 with a run and RBI while Ortega and Logan also had two hits each.
Eldred took the loss for the Cougars after allowing six earned runs and 13 hits over four innings.
Taft was held to just three hits in the Game 2 defeat. Reedley jumped on TC starter Luis DeLeon early, scoring four runs in the first and three more in the second.
Logan smacked a double for the Cougars while Alex Hunter and Munoz each pitched scoreless innings of relief.
Taft fell to 1-16 overall and 1-13 in the CVC with the two losses. The Cougars will look to snap and 11-game winning streak when they host Merced College on Tuesday (May 11) at 2 p.m. in a conference game.