Moorpark College and Oxnard College were scoreless for eleven innings, and then came Oxnard to score the winning run in the bottom of the twelfth.
With the win Oxnard still stays at the bottom of the WSC-North at 6-17 in conference and 13-26 overall, while Moorpark College falls to 10-14 and 16-22.
Both teams starting pitchers dominated the game, both going at least eight innings and allowing no runs.
Moorpark College starting pitcher Cliff Quick went 7 2/3 innings, struck out five, and walked four. He did not receive any run support from his team. Moorpark College left the bases loaded in two different innings, and wasted an opportunity to take the lead in the tenth inning.
The same lack of run support can be said for Oxnard College starting pitcher Corey Goldsmith, until his team scored the winning run in the bottom of the twelfth. Goldsmith provided a stunning 9 2/3 innings, five strike outs, six hits, and no runs.
“I wanted to leave it all out on the field,” said Goldsmith. “I am a sophomore, and it is my last start.”
After Goldsmith left the game in the middle of the tenth, both Moorpark and Oxnard would continue to score runs until the bottom of the twelfth. In the bottom of the twelfth inning, Oxnard College would load the bases with nobody out. The power hitting sophomore Michael Sliger was responsible to somehow get that winning run home from third. The amazing part was that Sliger would not even have to lift the bat off of his shoulder. Instead he only had to know what pitch to expect from Moorpark reliever Matt Montgomery. Montgomery would throw a slider that got away from the catcher Mario Landeros, and Sliger knew that he could not swing at the pitch.
“I needed to put the ball in play” said Sliger, “I knew he would throw a slider.”
Along with the heroics of Michael Sliger, JC Aguayo stood out going 2-6 with a big hit in the 12th, along with catcher Zac McDonald who contributed going 3-5.
However, the most satisfied member of the Oxnard College baseball team would be their Head Coach John Larson, despite having an unsuccessful season. Also, despite all of his years around baseball he experienced something for the first time.
“It is nice to win a series from a rival,” said Larson. “Cory has been doing really well that last few weeks. I have also never been in a game that stayed scoreless that long.”
Moorpark College will come home to play WSC-North leading Cuesta on Thursday, while Oxnard College will stay at home to play there biggest rival Ventura College.
