TAFT – Taft College pinch hitter Luke Passmore delivered in the clutch with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning to score pinch runner Fabian Perez and give the Cougars a 5-4 Central Valley Conference victory in walk-off fashion in their home finale over visiting West Hills College Coalinga on Tuesday.
Just two games remain on the 2022 schedule. Taft plays at Merced College on Thursday (Apr. 28) and wrap up the season on Friday at Reedley College.
On Tuesday, the Cougars had to erase a 4-1 deficit. TC struck first in the bottom of the first, getting a sacrifice fly from Tyler Vanneste that scored Jordan Phillips.
The Cougars held a narrow 1-0 lead until the top of the fifth. The Falcons rallied for four runs off TC starter Joey Loubert to jump out in front. A Taft error led to a pair of unearned runs.
TC came right back to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the frame. Phillips smacked a two-out, two-run single to drive in Jesus Cruz and Tyren Dorrance.
Down 4-3, Sean Ogrin tied up the ball game with a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
With the score tied up at 4-4, West Hills loaded up the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth. But Taft reliever Chad Berry struck out the Falcons' Jacob Stock to end the threat and set up the Cougars' eventual game-winning rally in the bottom of the ninth.
Nate Gutierrez walked to open the frame and pinch runner Perez moved to second on a ground out by Dorrance. Cruz was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second before Passmore came through with the game-ending base hit to set off the Taft celebration.
Phillips (2 for 4, 2 RBI, 3B, run) and Ogrin (2 for 4, HR, RBI, run) both had two hits to lead TC at the plate.
Loubert put together a strong start for the Cougars, going six innings while allowing four runs (two earned) and five hits. He struck out seven and walked two in the no decision.
Casey Henderson tossed a pair of scoreless innings while Berry picked up the win with his scoreless ninth inning.
The victory improved Taft to 16-22 overall and 10-12 in Central Valley Conference play.