Yamane Walks Off in 4-3 Win Over Bakersfield

Story and photos by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

With the game tied and two runners on base sophomore Kayla Yamane promptly drove a ball to deep left field, lifting College of the Canyons to a 4-3 eighth-inning walk-off victory over Bakersfield College on Thursday.

Yamane's clutch hit, which came with two outs, landed just fair and allowed Sierra Boyajian to easily score from second base and bring the Lady Cougars onto the field in celebration.

"That was a big win for us right there," COC head coach John Wissmath remarked after the game. "(Bakersfield) is a good team."

The win represented a comeback of sorts for COC, which tied the game twice before eventually coming away victorious.

Canyons (3-1) scored its first run in the bottom of the second on an RBI bunt single by Marisa Deleon that scored the speedy Rena Edwards from third.

That 1-0 advantage would hold until Bakersfield pushed across a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth, putting the game at 2-1 in the Renegades favor.

But Boyajian was able to quickly tie things back up at 2-2 with her solo home run in the bottom of that inning. She finished the game 2-for-3.

The Renegades (1-3) went ahead 3-2 when COC starter Megan Wilson issued a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth. That lead would once again be short lived.

In the seventh it was Valerie Rivas' RBI groundout that brought home Camryn Webb and sent the game to extras at 3-3.

In the extra frame Wissmath called upon reliever Kaitlyn Post, who got out of the inning clean after issuing a leadoff walk. Post eventually picked up the win after Yamane's walk-off hit.

Wilson pitched the first seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and five walks. She also struck out three batters.

Bakersfield starter Kylee Fahy pitched well throughout, tallying 11 strikeouts while surrendering the home run along with four walks. She was charged with three earned runs in the loss.

COC was scheduled for a road doubleheader at Cerritos College on Saturday, but those games were cancelled due to inclement weather.

Canyons will next see action in a road doubleheader vs. Cuesta College on Thursday, Feb. 14. Game times are scheduled for 12:30 & 2:30 p.m. 

The Lady Cougars then return home to host San Diego Mesa College for a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Whitten Field.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.