Lopez’s Walk-Off Homer Caps Taft’s Late Rally in 5-2 Win Over Sequoias

TAFT, Calif. — A three-run home run by Adrian Lopez in the bottom of the ninth capped a five-run late surge as Taft College rallied past Sequoias 5-2 on Feb. 18 at Cougar Field.

Down 2-0 through six and still trailing by a run entering the ninth, the Cougars broke through against Sequoias starter H. Groh, who had largely controlled the game to that point. Taft tied the game when Edel Guemarez reached on a fielder’s choice and a fielding error by the second baseman allowed pinch-runner Zaden Kekoa Sibal to come home, making it 2-2. On the next key swing, Lopez delivered the decisive blow, driving a three-run, unearned homer that pushed Taft in front for the first time and produced the final 5-2 margin.

Lopez finished 1-for-4, but his lone hit was the difference-maker, accounting for three RBIs and his only run scored. Taft’s offense had been kept quiet most of the afternoon, managing just one hit and one run over the first eight innings. The Cougars were also efficient, leaving only one runner on base and finishing with five runs on five hits and no walks.

Taft starter Chase Phillips battled through traffic to keep the Cougars within striking distance. Phillips worked six innings, allowing nine hits but limiting Sequoias to two earned runs with five strikeouts and two walks. He kept Sequoias off the board in four of his six innings, giving Taft a chance to mount its late comeback.

Sequoias built its early advantage with single runs in the second and fifth innings. A. Medina opened the scoring in the top of the second with an RBI single that brought in J. Chairez for a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, Chairez returned the favor, singling home W. Selley to extend the margin to 2-0. Medina went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base, reaching base four times and posting an .800 on-base percentage, while Chairez added two hits, an RBI and a run.

Taft began to chip away in the seventh. Trailing 2-0, the Cougars finally broke through when Hayden Ryan singled to drive in William Glover, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and setting the stage for the dramatic ninth inning. That was one of just four hits allowed by Groh over his 8 1/3 innings, as the Sequoias right-hander struck out five and was charged with four runs, only one of them earned, in a tough-luck loss.

Sequoias finished with 10 hits but stranded six runners and committed the costly ninth-inning error that opened the door for Taft’s rally. The Cougars played error-free defense and capitalized on their late opportunities, turning a game they trailed for seven innings into a statement comeback win at Cougar Field.