COD Baseball slams Imperial Valley, 18-4

COD (7-20; 4-7) put together their largest offensive output of the 2018 season, using an 8-run 7th inning to roll past the Imperial Valley Arabs (4-24; 3-11), 18-4. 

The Roadrunners had a great day at the plate as the top four hitters combined to go 11 for 15 with 11 runs batted in and 11 runs scored in a lopsided contest. Desert starting pitcher, sophomore right hander Quinton Bidon (Enumclaw, WA) tossed eight complete innings, striking out seven in his second win of the 2018 season and freshman right handed relief pitcher Wyatt Tippit (Glendale (AZ) Independence) closed things out in the ninth inning to secure the win.

While Imperial Valley opened up the scoring in the top of the first, the Roadrunners responded with five runs in the bottom half of the frame, as leadoff hitter, freshman right fielder Nathanael Tiaga (Indio Shadow Hills) and freshman left fielder Joshua Hernandez (Palm Desert H.S.) hit back-to-back doubles. Sophomore third baseman Nick Follett (Toronto (ONT) Bishop Allen Academy) walked and freshman first baseman Jonathan Mejia (Palm Desert H.S.) loaded the bases with a single. Freshman second baseman Nathaniel Lopez (Palm Desert H.S.) would reach on an error by the Arabs short stop scoring Josh Hernandez and sophomore catcher Matthew Hernandez (Murrieta Valley) would clear the bases with a double to give Desert a 5-1 lead.

The Roadrunners would add two more runs in the bottom of the second, when sophomore center fielder Austin Clifton (Romoland Heritage) led off the inning with a double and Tiaga brought him home with a double of his own. Tiaga would score on a double by Follett to make the score 7-1.

Imperial Valley would plate a run in the top of the third and Desert would respond with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Tiaga would lead off the inning with a walk and after moving to second on a bunt sacrifice, he would score on a double by Follett. Moments later, Follett stole third base, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Mejia, to give the Roadrunners a 9-2 lead.

The Arabs would add two more runs in the top of the fifth and Desert responded with a runoff their own in the bottom of the frame, when Clifton led off the inning with a double, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scoring on a Follett single, making the score 10-4.

Then the Roadrunners bats exploded, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the seventh and taking a commanding 18-4 lead. Tiaga grabbed a one out walk, reaching third on a double by Josh Hernandez and Follett would load the bases with a walk. Then Mejia doubled to score two runs, and Lopez walked to load the bases again. Matt Hernandez would hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Follett and Gonzalez walked to load the bases again. Sophomore short stop Jerred Soriano (Honolulu (HI) Moanalua) walked with the bases loaded to score another run and Clifton followed suit and also walked with the bases loaded to score another run. Then Tiaga cleared the bases with a double, scoring three more runs.

The next game for College of the Desert Baseball will be on the road on March 30th at 2p, where they will wrap up the 3-game series with the Arabs by continuing Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) by traveling to Imperial Valley.

Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com)

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.