Holmes (2 for 2, 2B) leads Taft in loss to Merced

Damien Holmes went a perfect 2 for 2 with a double while Jarod Lucas tossed a pair of scoreless innings of relief in a 6-0 Taft College loss to Merced College on Tuesday.

The Cougars couldn't get much going on offense, leaving six runners on base. Holmes hit a one-out double in the bottom of the third inning but was left stranded at third base.

TC starter Julian DeLeon pitched well despite the loss. He opened the game with three scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fourth. Merced scored a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth to chase him from the game.

Lucas closed out the game, striking out a season-high four batters over the eighth and ninth innings.

The Central Valley Conference loss dropped Taft to 1-17 overall and 1-14 in conference play. The Cougars will look to snap a 12-game losing streak on Wednesday (May 12) at 5 p.m. when they travel to Merced to close out the two-game CVC series.