MARAUDER BASEBALL LOSES SHOOTOUT TO CANYONS, 17-10

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

LANCASTER - The Marauder baseball team scored scored its second highest run total of the season.

The problem was, AVC allowed the most runs it has allowed all season.

In numbers normally only seen on a video game or on the football field, visiting College of the Canyons put up a lot of hits and a lot of runs as it cruised to an easy 17-10 victory over the host Marauders, Tuesday afternoon on a windy day at Marauder Stadium.

Arturo Sanchez and Timothy Dodd each had three hits on the day, including both hitting home runs. Dodd, Tyler Pittmon and Aaron Hart each had a pair of RBI for AVC.

The Marauders (9-25, 5-14) started quickly in the bottom of the first inning by pounding out four hits and scoring three runs, to claim a 3-0 lead. The Cougars, however, responded by scoring 10 unanswered runs, nine of those coming in the top of the fifth inning as they took a comfortable 10-3 lead.

"It's been a tough season for us. We're really focused on just having fun out there. Our coaches do a good job  keeping us motivated," said Hart, who was 2-for-4. "It's definitely been a grind, but I think it's made us a lot closer. Today was extremely windy and anything that was hit was going all over the place. I don't know what it is, but it's been very rocky at home this season."

The Marauders have struggled at home this season as they sport only 3-17 record at Marauder Stadium. AVC is 6-8 on the road.

COC extended its lead to 16-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, by scoring two runs in the seventh inning and four more in the eighth. The Marauders made it respectable in the bottom of the ninth inning as they scored five runs.

Sanchez hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, however, AVC still trailed 10-4 at that point. Dodd's home run came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Every player in the starting lineup for the Cougars had at least one hit.