Story and photo by Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information

College of the Canyons powered past Bakersfield College on Thursday, defeating the visiting Renegades 17-5 in the second game of the three-game conference series.  

Canyons (9-7, 2-0) also picked up a win against the 'Gades in Tuesday's Western State Conference (WSC), South division opener in Bakersfield, sliding by with a 4-3 victory. The 17 runs scored by COC represented a season-high.

Jovan Camacho, COC's current student-athlete of the week, kicked off the base-running early for the Cougars and with Andrew Allanson's single, was able to cross home plate first. Allanson made his way around the bases, but not before Charlie Rocca did the same.  

With a seemingly comfortable 3-0 lead going into the fourth inning, Bakersfield (6-13, 0-2) found some confidence in a home run from Ryan Redstone, followed by another from David Escobar to open the fifth. 

With the Renegades gaining momentum and holding a 4-3 lead, Canyons head coach Chris Cota relieved starting pitcher Tyler Biggs in the fifth inning. 

Biggs led the Cougars through four and 1/3 innings and allowed for four runs on six hits, two of which were home runs, while walking one and serving three strikeouts before handing the ball to Malakai Correll.

From the bottom of the fifth to the eighth the Cougars responded by putting up 14 runs in an array of singles, stolen bases, sac-flies, Renegade errors and two home runs.

Allanson hammered the ball over the fence for a three-run boost in the middle of the eighth right before Renegades' head coach Kurt Townson pulled reliever Maximillion Brooks, for Manuel Herrera

Herrera first faced Andy Ambriz who sent the ball out for the second Canyons home run of the game closing out the Cougars offensive blitz.

Renegades starting pitcher Tim Ruiz took the loss after allowing the Cougars the advancing run in the fifth.

Correll (2-2) picked up his second win in as many games after three and 2/3 innings on the mound, allowing only three hits, one walk and striking out five batters.

Top Performers

• Andrew Allanson – 4-for-6, HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2 SB
• Charlie Rocca – 4-for-6, 2B, 4 R, RBI,
• Andy Ambriz – 2-for-5, HR, R, 3 RBI
• Jovan Camacho – 2-for-4, 3 R, RBI
• Colin Yeaman – 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, SB

Upcoming Schedule

The Cougars finish out the series vs. Bakersfield on the road, Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m. before coming home to face L.A. Valley College for another three-game series scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Canyons is set to host the opener at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 with the second game at L.A. Valley on Thursday. The finale is scheduled for Saturday, March 18 back at COC.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the 2023 COC Athletic Hall of Fame induction Ceremony, please visit COCathletics.com or call (661) 362-3491.