Taft College played likely its finest game of the season, getting a strong nine-inning effort from starting pitcher Julian DeLeon, but ultimately suffered an excruciating 2-1 loss in 11 innings at Central Valley Conference-leading College of the Sequoias on Tuesday.
Making just his third start of the season, DeLeon easily put together her best outing on the mound. COS was averaging nearly 10 runs per game this season but DeLeon was able to hold the potent Giants lineup scoreless all the way until the eighth inning.
Nate Gilson led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. DeLeon got the second out of the inning on a groundout to shortstop that kept Gilson at second. But a pair of wild pitches by DeLeon allowed Gilson to move to third and score to give COS the lead.
But the Cougars didn't give up. Facing COS closer James Freisen, Chris Ortega led off the top of the ninth with a single and went to second on a sac bunt by Chris Scherbart. A groundout by Genta Yamazaki advanced pinch runner Jarod Lucas to third. And with two outs, the Cougars got the clutch hit they had been waiting all game for, a two-out single by pinch hitter R.J. Munoz to bring home Lucas with the tying run.
DeLeon added a scoreless ninth inning but had to pitch his way out of trouble after a two-out error allowed Flavio Perez Jr. to go to second base. But DeLeon retired T.J. Martinez on a groundout to end the threat and send the game to extra innings.
DeLeon was finally chased from the game in the 10th after allowing a lead-off double by Gilson. But reliever Blake Logan put out the fire, getting three straight outs to send the game to the 11th.
The teams decided to open the 11th inning with a runner on second base. Taft had a runner on first and second with one out, but a double play ended the frame for the Cougars.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Cougars elected to intentionally walk Andrew Valdez to put runner on first and second. But Donte Valdez drew a walk from Logan to load the bases. With no outs, pinch hitter Vincent Estrada hit a walk-off single to give COS the game as well as clinch the Central Valley Conference championship.
DeLeon was impressive, allowing just one run and four hits over 9+ innings. He struck out five and walked three in the no decision.
Taft outhit the Giants in the contest by an 8-5 margin but ultimately left 10 runners on base. Ortega led TC at the plate, going 2 for 4.
The narrow loss dropped Taft to 1-20 overall and 1-16 in conference play. The Cougars and Giants (17-4, 16-3 CVC) close out the two-game series on Wednesday (May 29) at 2 p.m. in Taft.