Cougars Blast Pair of Home Runs to Walk Off Glendale 17-16

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

Joey Besemer and Liam Ostrom both clubbed ninth-inning home runs to power College of the Canyons past Glendale College in a dramatic 17-16 walk-off victory on Tuesday at Mike Gillespie Field.

Canyons (9-11, 3-1) entered the final frame trailing 16-13 following a sequence which saw Glendale (12-7-1, 2-2) plate runs in seven of the first eight innings. 

Ben Strutt singled to lead off the Cougars' ninth inning before Besemer left the yard with a two-run shot that gave COC renewed hope at 16-15.

After a pitching change from the Vaqueros, Reid Farrell was hit by a pitch for the team-leading seventh time this season to get on base as the tying run.

Ostrom then teed off for the walk-off home run brining the Cougars pouring out of the dugout in celebration. The round-tripper was Ostrom's eighth of the year, which leads the club and ranks second in the conference. He finished the game 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs and the game-winning knock.

Besemer's home run was his first of the season and highlighted a day in which the freshman second baseman went 3-for-5 adding a double, four RBIs and three runs.

The victory is COC's third in the last four games to begin Western State Conference (WSC), South Division play. Canyons previously won its three-game series vs. West L.A. College by a 2-1 margin.

The late-inning heroics came after a back-and-forth contest which saw COC fall behind 4-0 before using an eight-run outburst in the third inning to put the Cougars ahead 9-4.

Michael Hogen recorded a two-run double to start the scoring frenzy with Travis Van Ness adding a two-run single. Kotaro Kuwatani forced a run in with a bunt single before Besemer's two-run double. Farrell's RBI single then capped the scoring.

That newly acquired lead was short-lived, however, as Glendale leadoff man Adonis Jenkins homered to drive in three runs in the fourth, then cleared the bases with a three-run double in the fifth to reclaim the Vaqueros' advantage at 10-9.

Glendale scored three more in the seventh and two in the eighth to build a late 16-11 lead ahead of the Canyons comeback bid.

COC starter Tyler Hawn was charged with 10 runs in his four and 1/3 innings. The most of that damage came from the long ball with Glendale recording five home runs off the freshman right-hander. Hawn struck out six and walked three but didn't factor into the decision.

Zach Herbert pitched one and 2/3 innings of relief for Canyons allowing one run on one hit and walk, with three strikeouts. Wesley Yim pitched the seventh and two outs into the eighth but allowed five runs while surrendering three home runs. Colby Lipp (1-1) eventually earned the win for COC after recording the final four outs unscathed.

Tristan Purfoy (1-1) took the loss for Glendale. GCC starter Anthony Yepez lasted just two and 1/3 innings and was tagged for eight runs, seven earned, on six hits and four walks. He struck out five along the way. The Vaqueros also handed the ball to relievers Ethan Montes and Carson Maymo who both struggled against the hot-hitting Cougars' lineup.

COC added two runs in the sixth after Van Ness singled in a run and later came around to score on a wild pitch. In the eighth it was Kuwatani reaching on a fielder's choice that scored Hogen. Jacob Bond's base hit then brought in Van Ness for his fourth run of the game.

Canyons worked for six walks and recorded 18 hits in the game with everyone in the lineup hitting safely. Farrell, Van Ness and Besemer tied for the team lead with three hits each. Hogen scored three times and drove in a pair of runs. Van Ness also added three RBIs to the mix.

The series now shifts to Glendale with the sides set to square off at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 12.

Game three is set for 2 p.m. Friday, March 13, back at Mike Gillespie Field with that game being live streamed to fans free of charge via YouTube on the Cougars Sports Network.

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 X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Photo by Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information