By Jesse Lubiniecki

TAFT, CA – Taft College Baseball faced Coalinga College on February 18 on the road for their first conference game.

The Cougars came out early in the first when Ty Moore laid down a perfect bunt to get on. Some small ball moved him over to third and Rhett Hodgins hit a sac fly scoring Moore and taking the lead. Chase Phillips was on the bump for the Cougars and absolutely shoved. Phillips went 6 innings allowing only 1 run in the 5th. With the game tied at 1, Sho Saegusa came in relief, putting up a clean 0 in the bottom of the 7th.

In the top of the 8th with two outs, Rhett Hodgins singles. Manny Esparza stepping up to the plate puts the ball in play and scores Hodgins to regain the lead 2-1. Going into the 9th, Jesse Lubiniecki came out to shut the door, three up three down to win the ball game 2-1.