MSJC Sweeps VVC, Moves Into Second in IEAC

The MSJC baseball team earned a three-game sweep over Victor Valley last week moving them into second place in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference standings.

The Eagles dominated the first two games of the series as they won on Tuesday in Victorville 27-3. The offensive explosion by MSJC featured 22 total hits including 13 for extra bases. Dayton Thompson hit a pair of homeruns and drove in four runs, Matt Rezkalah also homered while driving in a game-high five runs. Ty Mattson was the third MSJC player to hit a homerun and Wyatt Fiedler had four RBIs and a pair of doubles. Gavin Warner was the winning pitcher as he went six innings allowing just one earned run while striking out seven.

Thursday's game in San Jacinto again saw the Eagles cruise to victory as they won 15-1. Steven Felipe led the offensive charge, going three for four with three RBIs. Alex Pintal and Christian Maciel each had two doubles in the win. Isaiah Diaz was the pitcher of record as he threw six shutout innings.

Saturday's final game of the series was back in Victorville and was a much closer contest, but the Eagles rallied to complete the sweep. The Rams built a 4-1 lead after six innings before Thompson started the comeback with a two-run single in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 4-3. Mattson then hit a dramatic eighth inning two-run homerun to put MSJC ahead. Pintal and Fiedler provided the Eagles with some insurance in the eighth as each drove in another run. Tylor Copeland earned the pitching victory in relief and Ivan Salas picked up his second save of the year. Salas got the las five outs of the contest allowing no runs and striking out a pair.

The Eagles are now 17-12 overall and 11-7 in IEAC games, half a game ahead of Cerro Coso for second place in the league standings. This week MSJC will play three non-conference games when they play a series against El Camino. Tuesday and Friday MSJC will be on the road with a home game on Thursday at 1 pm.