Cougars get offensive in 15-8 win at Antelope Valley

Jake Pearson drove in five runs while Taft College exploded for 17 hits in a 15-8 rout at Antelope Valley College on Tuesday.

The 15 runs set new a season-high for the Cougars while the 17 hits tied their best mark from earlier in the year.

Taft jumped on AVC starting pitcher Andrew Garcia early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Pearson's two-run triple gave Taft a lead that it wouldn't give up.

Antelope Valley got two runs back in the bottom of the frame before the Cougars added single runs in the second and third to extend their lead to 5-2. Taft blew the game open with a four-run, sixth inning and three-run, seventh.

Zach Jones smashed a solo home run in the sixth, the first of four blasts for the Cougars. Pearson added a three-run shot in the sixth, Wes Hebert went yard for a solo home run in the eighth, and Tyler Gardner smacked a two-run homer in the ninth.

Jones was perfect at the plate, going 4 for 4 with a walk and a pair of RBI. Gardner went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs while Javier Ramirez also drove in 3 runs as part of a 2 for 3 day.

Cedric Corrales earned the win, tossing six innings while allowing 2 runs and 3 hits. He struck out 4 and walked three.

The victory improved Taft to 5-7 overall. The Cougars will look to keep the momentum going when they return to action on Thursday (Feb. 28) with a non-conference game at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.