The bleachers were bedecked with colorful canopies in the early afternoon sun as a small crowd of vocal fans watched Moorpark College end a five-game losing streak and defeat Chaffey College 8-7 at Raider Stadium on Saturday, Feb.13.

With the game tied in the ninth inning, sophomore first baseman Dalton Duarte patiently worked the count with the bases loaded and forced a walk to bring the winning run in for the Raiders.

“I had a couple of good at-bats and three or four RBIs,” said Duarte, who was charged with two infield errors. “I didn’t do to well on defense, but I got the runs back for my team in the batter’s box.”

Alert base running by shortstop Terrell Tate tied the game for the Raiders in the seventh. Scampering from second on an out at first base with the catcher out of position, he caught the Panthers napping and beat the throw to the plate.

“The catcher who fielded the play wasn’t behind the plate and I decided to go for it,” Tate said. “I had three runs and an RBI. I went one for two, with two walks and was hit by a pitch.”

In a quick one-two punch in the first inning, leadoff hitter Garrett Kueber’s single was immediately followed by Tate’s double for the first RBI. Catcher Riley Conlan’s fly ball to right sent Tate to third, and he scored on Duarte’s fly ball to left.

Infielder Kevin Riley’s two out homer to center with a runner on second, tied the game for Chaffey in the third.

“I went six and a third innings, and gave up six runs,” said Raider starter Zak Daniels. “I wasn’t really happy when I came out of the game and we were tied up, but our offense came through.”

After a double-play ball ended Moorpark’s rally for only one run in the fourth, the Raiders added three runs in the fifth.

Back-to-back base hits by third baseman Nick Bero and designated hitter Jeff Wilson were followed by a safe bunt by centerfielder Jesse Aucelluzzo, to load the bases with no outs. Tate was hit by a pitch bringing in a run. Conlon’s base hit to right with one out drove home another, and Duarte’s fly ball to left scored the third.

“Our team had a lot of fight today, and I fed off that energy,” said freshman reliever John Cashman, who pitched the last two and two-thirds innings for Moorpark. “At the start I was leaving the ball up a little bit, but I found the zone and got it down.”

The Panthers struck back with four runs, for a 7-6 lead, in the top of the seventh. With two on and one out, Riley’s base hit drove in the first run. Base hits by Aaron McCann and Cody Palmer added two more and Duarte’s error at first base brought home the fourth. Luckily, a double-play ball ended the inning and saved the Raiders from further damage.

“Hopefully, we can take this momentum into the next game and into conference,” said freshman infielder Nick Bero. “It was a good team win and the guys are really happy.”

Moorpark travels to Cypress College on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. game and returns to the friendly confines of Raiders Stadium for the first Western State-North Conference game of the season starting at 1 p.m. Saturday against Santa Barbara City College.