Photo Courtesy of Jesse Munoz/COC PIO Office

Santa Clarita, Calif – A dramatic walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the College of the Canyons baseball team to a 3-2 win over division rival L.A. Valley College on Wednesday at Cougar Field.

The win was an important one for Canyons (16-12, 8-5), as the Cougars look to remain competitive in the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division.

Wednesday’s victory brings the Cougars within one game of the Monarchs for second place behind Glendale, which currently holds a commanding lead atop the division standings.

The victory also wrapped up COC’s three-game season sweep over the Monarchs.

Canyons freshman pitcher Collin Dudley pitched eight solid innings of one-run baseball before leaving without the decision.

COC reliever Zach Hanks picked up the win after retiring two crucial outs in the top of the ninth inning.

Fortunately for COC, the Monarchs returned the favor and the Cougars clinched the win in the bottom of the ninth.

Down 2-1, first baseman Chris Devery doubled and drove in the game-tying run. From there, Devery scored the winning run when outfielder Cole Mears was walked three batters later.

COC second baseman Colton Burns finished the game with two hits and scored a run, while Devery finished 1-for-3.

Shortstop Jose Haros drove in COC’s only other run with an RBI triple off the wall in the eighth inning.

Next up for COC is a showdown with West Los Angeles at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, at Cougar Field.