COD (1-7) opened up a double header at home, starting strong in game one, but falling 10-2 and then took a lead midway through the second game, falling 7-3 against the Glendale Vaqueros (5-2).

Desert opened up the scoring in game one with a run in the bottom of the first as freshman short stop Nathanael Tiaga (Indio Shadow Hills) led off with a single to right and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman left fielder Joshua Hernandez (Palm Desert H.S.). Tiaga would get to third base on a wild pitch and then score on a two out single to left by freshman designated hitter Nathaniel Lopez (Palm Desert H.S.), giving the Roadrunners an early 1-0 lead.

Desert starting pitcher, sophomore right hander Quinton Bidon (Enumclaw, WA) shut down the Vaqueros for four innings, then in the fifth Glendale would accentuate a six run inning with a grand slam, chasing Bidon.

Glendale would two more runs in the sixth and two more runs in the seventh, before Roadrunners freshman right handed relief pitcher Wyatt Tippit (Glendale (AZ) Independence) closed down the Vaqueros for the eighth and ninth innings.

The Roadrunners would score a run in bottom of the ninth when sophomore catcher Julian Gonzalez (Palm Springs H.S.) would lead off the inning with a walk, advancing to third on a ground out and scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field by freshman second baseman Adam Lopez (La Quinta H.S.).

In game two, Desert fell behind early as the Vaqueros snagged a run in the top of the first and Desert would tie up the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Sophomore third baseman Nick Follett (Toronto (ONT) Bishop Allen Academy) led off the inning with a single and freshman left fielder Joshua Hernandez (Palm Desert H.S.) moved Follett over to second on a one out single. Freshman center fielder Jordan Crisp (Lakewood Mayfair) reached on a fielder's choice, moving Follett to third base and freshman short stop Nathanael Tiaga (Indio Shadow Hills) reached on an error by the Glendale short stop, scoring Follett and tying the game at 1-1.

In the top of the third, the Vaqueros regained the lead, but the Roadrunners would tie the game up again at 2-2 in the bottom half of the frame. Freshman first baseman Jonathan Mejia (Palm Desert H.S.) punched a one out single, moving to second base on a passed ball, reaching third base on a ground out to second base and then scoring on an error by the Glendale second baseman, to tie the game at 2-2.

After freshman right handed starting pitcher Fernando Rojas (Indio Shadow Hills) tossed a perfect top of the fifth, Desert grabbed the lead in the bottom half of the inning when freshman second baseman Nathaniel Lopez (Palm Desert H.S.) led off the inning by doubling to left-center. Lopez moved to third on a single by Mejia and scored on a double steal attempt, where Lopez stole home, to give Desert a 3-2 lead.

Unfortunately, that would be the final run of the night for the Roadrunners, as Glendale scored three runs in the top of the sixth and two more runs in the top of the eighth.

Next home game for College of the Desert Baseball will be February 16th at 2p, where they will host the Citrus Fighting Owls. Hope to see you there.

Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.