TAFT, CA – An all-important game saw the Taft College Baseball Cougars (19-15) square up against West Hills College Coalinga (2-31). A scrappy team, West Hills came out to play, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. The Cougars responded with a run of their own in the second inning, evening the game at 1 apiece. The score would remain locked at 1 until the fourth inning when West Hills tacked on 2 runs to regain the lead 3-1.
Some pushbacks in the fifth saw a run go across for the Cougars, but West Hills added another in the bottom half of the fifth. A 6 run sixth inning capped off by a Jesus Gonzalez moonshot gave the Cougars an 8-4 lead, a lead that they would not relinquish. The Cougars would score four more runs in the seventh and ninth innings, with Owen Hayes getting in on the homerun parade. West Hills also scored 4 runs in the latter half of the game bringing the final score to 12-8 in favor of the Cougars.
The Cougars are still amidst a playoff push sitting one game out of first place with an overall record of 20-15 and a conference record of 14-7.
The next TC Cougar Baseball game is on Tuesday, April 23 at 2:00 pm against Reedley College, at home, with a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
In recognition of Sophomore Day, there will be free hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and drinks given at the game.