Jack Coscuella walks it off on a bases-loaded walk

Coming back after being down 5 runs, the Monarchs win it in the ninth

By Nicholas Orozco, Sports Editor

Bottom nine, Bases loaded, two outs, Monarchs sophomore second baseman Jack Coscolluela celebrates after a walk-off walk to win the game against the Santa Ana College Dons 9-8. (Xavier Dubon | Valley Star)

With the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore Jack Coscuella was sitting on a full count before he took an outside fastball for ball four, walking in the winning run and handing the Monarchs a 9-8 victory over the Santa Ana Dons.

Fearing rain over the coming weekend, college officials pushed the contest between Valley College (6-7 overall) and Santa Ana (8-5 overall) to Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore Josh Eigenbrodt was given the emergency start on the mound for the home team and struggled in two innings of work, giving up four runs in the second frame.

Valley called on sophomore Josh Balos, freshmen Drew Gustafson and Andy Rodriguez in relief.

Balos pitched four innings and gave up three runs. Gustafson allowed one run in two innings and Rodriguez threw a scoreless ninth.

“It shows we have depth,” said head coach Dave Mallas. “It was great for them to keep pitching, and to throw strikes.”

On the offensive side, freshman Luis Torres drove in three runs on two hits. The third baseman drove a double into left center scoring freshmen Max Aude and sophomore Bobby Velasco. Torres would come in to score himself on a single from freshman Sean David.

The Dons would score one run in the sixth and seventh, giving them a slim 2-run lead. However, Torres responded again with a single into left, scoring Velasco.

“That was one of our better days offensively,” said Mallas following the game.

Dons reliever Joey Iglesias took the mound in the sixth and wound up pitching in the ninth, costing his team the game. In the bottom of the final frame, Iglesias issued a single, a walk, and hit two batters, knotting up the game at eight.

Coscuella stepped up to the plate with two outs and the bases juiced.

“Be late, be late,” head coach Dave Mallas yelled from the dugout to Cosculluela in order to foul the ball off.

Sitting in a full count and fouling one pitch off, the second baseman took ball four that was off the plate and knee high. The walk allowed sophomore Brandon Cuervo to touch home.

“Our two strike approach is to get up on the plate,” said Coscuella. “I saw it was off the plate as a ball, ball four.”

The Monarchs will next play on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. to host the Comets of Palomar College.