Taft College posted season highs in hits and runs scored, but a five-run, eighth-inning rally wasn't enough to overcome a six-run deficit as the Cougars suffered a narrow 11-10 non-conference loss to visiting Cerro Coso Community College on Saturday.
TC's 19 hits and 10 runs surpassed the Cougars previous high of 12 hits and 8 runs against Reedley College on April 21.
A six-run outburst by the Coyotes in the top of the fifth inning ultimately cost the Cougars a potential win.
Trailing 10-2, Taft slowly began to chip away at the lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Chris Ortega smashed a solo home run to lead off the frame while Bill Bonner smacked a two-run double to drive in Julian DeLeon and Justin Francis.
Cerro Coso tacked on an important run in the top of the eighth that would prove to be the difference just before the Cougars big rally in the bottom of the inning. A bases-loaded walk by Julian DeLeon forced in Chris Scherbart with a run. The surge continued with Luis DeLeon getting hit by a pitch to bring in Logan, Andres Garza hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Genta Yamazaki while Damien Holmes' groundout brought in Luis DeLeon. And Christian Wilson capped it off with a two-out, RBI-single that scored Luis DeLeon. Ortega followed with a walk, but him and Wilson were left stranded on base.
In the ninth, the Cougars managed to get the tying run on second base after Julian DeLeon singled with two outs and advanced on a wild pitch. But Cerro Coso was able to pitch out of the jam and end the ball game.
Earlier in the contest, Wilson hit a solo home run of his own to get the Cougars on the board in the third. He went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI while Ortega went 2 for 3 with a RBI and three walks. Garza (2 for 4, 2 RBI), Holmes (2 for 5, 2B, RBI), Munoz (2 for 3), Francis (2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 runs), Yamazaki (2 for 3, run), and Julian DeLeon (2 for 5, 2 runs, RBI) all had two hits each for Taft.
Jordan Eldred took the loss in the start, allowing eight earned runs and 11 hits over four innings.
The loss dropped Taft to 1-19 overall. The Cougars will look to snap their losing streak on Tuesday (May 18) when they travel to College of the Sequoias for a 2 p.m. Central Valley Conference game.