Cougars Fall 11-3 to Fresno City Despite Yamamoto Home Run

Taft College could not overcome an early deficit as Fresno City College built a lead in the first inning and steadily pulled away for an 11-3 win Thursday afternoon at Cougar Field.

Fresno City set the tone immediately with a three-run first inning and never trailed. A run-scoring double by Gilbert Acosta opened the scoring, and Noble Ortega followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0 before Taft came to bat. The Rams added on throughout the game, finishing with 11 runs on 10 hits while taking advantage of eight walks and five hit batters.

Taft answered in the third inning to get on the board. Aiden Otano singled and later came around to score on subsequent action, trimming the margin to 3-1 and briefly shifting momentum toward the Cougars. However, Fresno City responded in the fourth, when Tyler O'Toole launched a two-run home run to left to restore a three-run cushion and push the lead to 5-1.

The Rams broke the game open in the fifth inning with a three-run frame. A double by Drake Davis helped ignite the rally, and Fresno City used a hit-by-pitch, a walk that forced in a run and a sacrifice to extend the advantage to 8-1. Taft's pitchers battled through traffic much of the afternoon, as Fresno City drew eight walks and saw two Cougars wild pitches contribute to run-scoring opportunities.

The Cougars produced their biggest swing in the sixth. Gaku Yamamoto connected for a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 8-3 and giving Taft a late offensive spark. Taft finished with seven hits and left eight runners on base, creating chances but unable to come up with the big inning needed to close the gap.

Fresno City added insurance in the late innings. In the eighth, Jace Davies scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-3. In the ninth, Brayden Chiarito delivered a two-RBI single, setting the final margin at 11-3. Chiarito finished with three RBIs, while Ortega also drove in three runs for the Rams.

On the mound, Fresno City starter Nathan Leffel kept Taft's lineup in check over six innings. Leffel earned the win after allowing five hits and three earned runs with nine strikeouts and only one walk. Taft pitchers struck out six but were hurt by free passes and Fresno City's timely extra-base hits. The Cougars will get another crack at the Rams on Saturday, March 14 in Fresno.