Giants Hold Off Late Rally to Secure Series Sweep Over Merced
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | X | 8 | 15 | 3 |
VISALIA, Calif. – College of the Sequoias held off a late push to secure an 8-7 victory over Merced on Thursday afternoon, completing the three-game series sweep.
The Giants (19-15, 13-5) built an early lead and managed to withstand a late rally from the Blue Devils to come away with the sweep.
COS broke through in the third inning, scoring four runs to take control. Kadyn Kirkley (Bakersfield Christian HS) opened the scoring with an RBI single before Walker Selley delivered the big swing, hitting a three-run home run to give the Giants a 4-0 lead.
The Giants added to their score in the fifth when Solomon Anderson drove in a run with a single, extending the lead to 5-0.
Merced responded in the sixth with three runs to cut into the deficit, but Sequoias answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. Selley delivered again with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 6-3.
The Giants added two more runs in the seventh, as Hayden Elchlepp (Stockdale HS) brought in a run with a single and another run came across on a wild pitch to make it 8-4.
Merced continued to battle late, scoring once in the eighth before a two-run home run in the ninth trimmed the lead to one. However, the Giants were able to close it out and secure the victory.
Selley led the way offensively, finishing with four RBIs, including a 3-run HR, while Aiden Medina (Hoover HS), Caleb Catalano (San Francisco), and Anderson each recorded multiple hits. Elchlepp also added an RBI as part of the 15-hit performance.
On the mound, Jerod Smith (Fowler HS) provided a solid start, going six innings and allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out four.
"We did a good job building a lead early and putting ourselves in a good position," Head Coach Scott Laird said. "There are things we can clean up, but I liked how we responded offensively and found a way to finish it."
On Deck
College of the Sequoias returns home next week for a pair of games, hosting Taft on Monday, April 13 and Fresno City College on Tuesday, April 14. Both games are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. as the Giants continue conference play.
