Canyons Has Early Lead Evaporate in 9-4 Loss at Orange Coast
The Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead before the Pirates scored nine unanswered runs.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 13 | 2 |
Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
COSTA MESA — The Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, but ultimately would score no more as host Orange Coast College responded with nine unanswered runs to halt the Cougars 9-4 on Saturday.
The loss drops COC to 3-11-1 on the season and comes just two days after Canyons rallied to tie Cypress College 11-11 on Thursday. Orange Coast improved to 9-6 for the year.
Tyler Grodell and DJ Kougher both recorded first inning RBIs. Kougher and Blake Mann both scored unearned runs in the inning.
COC starter Will Chambers (1-1) lasted 2 and 2/3 innings and was charged with five earned runs on seven hits and two walks in taking the loss.
Blake Littleton, Ayden Alger and Sam Stulman each saw time on the mound in relief of Chambers.
Six Cougars recorded hits in the game with Grodell leading the way with two. Chambers drew a pair of walks at the plate.
Canyons left seven runners on base in the contest. In the field, COC turned three double plays.
Orange Coast did the bulk of its damage with a four-run third inning and added another big inning with three in the sixth.
Top Performers
Freshman Sam Stulman threw three scoreless innings to close out the game. The Valencia High School graduate issued a pair of walks and allowed three hits while striking out three.
Tyler Grodell finished the day 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Another Valencia product, Grodell has hit safely in 10 straight games with six multi-hit efforts.
Freshman backstop DJ Kougher was 1-for-3 with a first-inning RBI. He has now hit safely in 14 of 16 games, while handling the Cougars' pitching staff.
Sophomore outfielder Blake Mann, who leads the Western State Conference (WSC) in home runs, was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run vs. the Pirates.
Up Next
Canyons begin WSC, South Division competition with a road tilt vs. L.A. Valley College on Tuesday, March 5. The three-game series shifts to Cougar Field at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 with the finale scheduled for Saturday, March 7 back at LAVC.
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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.