COD (2-16; 0-3) opened up an early lead in the final game of the series versus the San Diego Mesa Olympians (8-6-1; 3-0) and then took a 7-6 lead going into the 7th, but a two-run home run in the top of the 11th proved to be the difference as the Roadrunners fell, 10-8.

Sophomore center fielder and leadoff hitter, Izayah Alvarez (Palm Desert H.S.) went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two walks and freshman designated hitter Mario Ramirez (Rancho Mirage H.S.) went 3 for 6 with a run scored.

Freshman right fielder Noah Ponce (Riverside Hillcrest) went 2 for 6 with two runs scored and a run batted in and freshman second baseman Riley McDonald (Murrieta Mesa) went 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Freshman right handed starting pitcher Keven Yanez (Moreno Valley Canyon Springs) tossed six and two-thirds innings of work allowing seven runs, all earned on nine hits, striking out four. Freshman right handed relief pitcher Max Weckel (Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman) was a workhorse out of the pen, logging four and a third innings, allowing three runs, all earned on five hits.

Desert took an early lead in the bottom of the first, plating two runs, the first run arriving on a double steal, which brought Alvarez home and the second run moments later, on a single to center, scoring Ramirez, giving the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead.

Mesa would respond in the top of the third with a five run outburst, leaving the Roadrunners to attempt to chip away at the three run lead and in the bottom of the frame they scored a run, as Alvarez again crossed home plate to get Desert to within two runs, 5-3.

The Olympians would build on their lead in the top of the fifth, adding a run and making the score, 6-3, but Desert would explode for four runs in the bottom of the sixth, to give the home side a 7-6 lead.

Unfortunately, Mesa would lead of the top of the seventh with a hit by pitch and that run eventually came around to tie the game at 7-7.

Then the Desert offense ground to a halt as the Roadrunners would strand a runner at second base with two outs in the seventh and then go in order in the eighth and the ninth to head into extras tied at 7-7.

In the tenth, with the wind howling, the Olympians would hit a one out double to left and back that up with a two out double to left, scoring a run and taking an 8-7 lead. Not to be outdone, the Desert would tie the game in the bottom of the frame.

Ponce would hit a one out single to right field and McDonald would punch a single to center. After a strike out, freshman left fielder Jacob Curiel (Moreno Valley H.S.), hitting out of the nine hole in the lineup, clobbered a two out single to center, scoring Ponce and tying the game once again, at 8-8.

The Olympians would intentionally walk Alvarez to load the bases with two out and the game tied, and with a full count, the Desert batter would strike out.

In the eleventh, Mesa would clobber a wind aided home run to left and while the Roadrunners had some opportunities in the bottom of the inning, it proved not to be so this afternoon.

The next game for College of the Desert Baseball will be in San Diego on March 5th at 2p, where they will travel to the San Diego City Knights in a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference game.

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

Information, Story & Photo provided by COD Sports Information.