Cosumnes River College’s baseball team defeated Los Medanos College 18-14 on Friday in a high-scoring comeback win.
CRC had to rally as head coach Don Mico was unable to be at the game.
“The goal was to stay in the game and win for him,” said freshman first baseman Alan Quirarte-Guzman.
The game started quick for Los Medanos as their lead off hitter took freshman pitcher Nik Rostak deep. Rostak allowed three runs in the inning but would salvage a quality start out of the chaos finishing his day with four innings pitched, four earned runs, three strikeouts and one walk.
When the fourth inning turned over the Hawks were looking at a 4-1 deficit. However the team did not waiver.
“CRC is very grit and grind,” said assistant pitching coach Trevor Arntson.
The bottom of the fourth inning was an offensive explosion for CRC as they would end up putting 10 runs on the board. The Hawks had four seperate multi-RBI hits in the inning, one of which would come from Quirarte Guzman who would end with both a team high in hits and RBI with four of each.
“We put together runs and we didn’t stop,” said freshman designated hitter Guadalupe Gonzalez.
Both teams would continue the onslaught as 15 runs in total were scored in the next three innings with CRC having seven with help from RBIs from Quirarte Guzman and Gonzalez.
The team would score their final run when freshman outfielder Noah Rhea-Meaux hit into a double play, scoring a runner which would bring the score to 18-12 going into the top of the eighth inning.
The Hawks would bring in the lefty Rhea Meaux to attempt to close out the game. Rhea Meaux was able to hold Los Medanos scoreless in the top of the eighth inning which was the first half inning with no run since the bottom of the third.
Rhea Meaux would allow two runs in the ninth but then worked himself out of a bases loaded jam to close out the game and secure the win for CRC.
“It may not have been pretty but we got the win,” said Rhea Meaux.
The Hawks went on to play a doubleheader against West Valley on Saturday, improving to an 11-3 early season record. The team will travel to play against Diablo Valley for their first conference game of the season.