By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons hit three home runs to power past Victor Valley College 10-2 on Tuesday, keeping the Cougars’ conference championship hopes alive.

Canyons (25-12, 14-4) started the week a game behind Western State Conference East Division leader Glendale College (26-12, 15-3), but wasn’t able to draw any closer on Tuesday, with the Vaqueros defeating Citrus College 6-3.

COC leadoff man Calvin Estrada started the game on a high note, belting a home run over the center field wall on the first pitch he saw.

The following inning, it was Blake Doremus lifting off on a two-run shot to make it a 3-0 ballgame. COC added two more runs in that sequence, including a two-run single from Trace Eldridge.

In the fourth, Eddie Rodriguez and Ryan Mendoza both drove home runs to create some distance at 7-0.

Victor Valley (9-29, 3-15) finally got on the board with a solo home run surrendered by COC starter Eric Little that made it a 7-1 game. The Rams added another run in the sixth but were unable to get any closer.

Little (2-2) stuck out 10 batters in the game, scattering five hits with no walks to earn the win.

Eldridge homered in the sixth inning before Doremus doubled in a run to make it a 9-2 score.

The final damage came on Eldridge’s RBI single in the seventh that scored Estrada.

Eldridge finished the game 4-for-5 with a double, home run, two runs and three RBIs. Estrada was 2-for-5 with four runs scored. Doremus went 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.

Justin King and Devin Judge pitched the final three innings, combining to allow just one VVC baserunner.

Here’s the box score.

Canyons will make the trip to Victor Valley on Thursday, before hosting the Ram’s in Friday’s regular seson finale.

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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

— Photo by Ashley Muñoz/COC Sports Information