Sequoias Rallies Late to Sweep Marin in Two-Game Series
VISALIA, Calif. – The College of the Sequoias baseball team (3-2) battled back in both games against Marin College (2-3), using late-inning heroics to secure a series sweep at home.
Sequoias showed resilience throughout the series, coming from behind in both games. Aiden Medina and Noe Salazar were key in Game 1's comeback, while Walker Selley and Diego Sanchez powered the Game 2 rally. The Giants also took advantage of Marin's defensive miscues, capitalizing in crucial moments.
"We've talked a lot about finishing games, and this was a great example of that," Head Coach Jody Allen added. "This is the type of series that builds confidence moving forward."
Game 1 – Sequoias 8, Marin 7 (Jan. 30, 2025)
Trailing for most of the afternoon, COS staged a ninth-inning comeback to claim an 8-7 walk-off victory.
Marin grabbed early momentum, scoring four runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Derek Bartram. The Mariners tacked on another in the eighth, stretching their lead to 7-2.
The Giants did not score until the sixth inning, when Alex Lopez (Golden West HS) singled home Bryson Leyva (Highland HS) to cut the deficit to 4-1. Diego Sanchez (Bakersfield Christian HS) later scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to make it a two-run game at 4-2.
Marin extended its lead with three more runs in the eighth, but COS responded in the bottom half of the eighth. Noe Salazar (Kerman HS) and Jonathon Ortega (Golden West HS) each drove in runs to cut the deficit back down to 7-5.
In the ninth, Aiden Medina (Hoover HS) tied the game with a clutch two-RBI single before Salazar delivered the game-winning hit, scoring Medina for the walk-off win.
Chance Jasso (Redwood HS) earned the victory, shutting down Marin and getting the game's final 4 outs.
"Our guys showed a lot of fight in this one," Head Coach Allen said. "It would have been easy to pack it in after falling behind late, but we kept putting together quality at-bats, and kept the line moving."
Game 2 – Sequoias 10, Marin 7 (Jan. 31, 2025)
The Giants overcame another late deficit with a six-run seventh inning to complete the sweep with a 10-7 win.
Marin wasted no time jumping ahead, as Wyatt Davis and Derek Bartram hit solo home runs in the first inning. COS answered in the bottom half when Sanchez singled home Medina, making it 2-1.
After both teams traded runs in the middle innings, Marin capitalized on a catcher's interference call in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Then, COS erupted for a Giant six runs in the seventh.
Walker Selley (Smiths Parish, BM) put the Giants ahead with a two-RBI double, followed by a Sanchez RBI single to take a 7-6 lead. Moments later, an error allowed Nick Senn (El Diamante HS) to reach base, scoring Sanchez. Lopez added an RBI on a fielder's choice to extend the lead to 9-6.
The Giants tacked on one more run in the eighth, and though Marin managed to score in the ninth, Hudson Groh (Liberty HS) shut the door to secure the win.
"That seventh inning was a testament to how deep our lineup is," Allen said. "We got contributions from a lot of guys, and when we're clicking like that, we're tough to beat."
Upcoming Games
The Giants continue their homestand with a single game against Bakersfield on Tuesday, February 4, first pitch slated for 2:00 PM. They will then face Modesto in a two-game home-and-home series, hosting the Pirates on Thursday, February 6 at 2:00 PM before traveling to Modesto for a Saturday, February 8 matchup at 1:00 PM.
