Gavilan College’s Kevin Burley was on fire Tuesday.
The Rams right fielder and former San Benito High graduate was a double shy of hitting for the cycle, helping his team clinch a decisive 10-5 win over Canada College in Redwood City.
With one run already across, Burley started his day with a two-run single in the top of the first which scored Matt Peterson and Erik Barron to put Gavilan up 3-0.
Canada answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and scored two more in the third to tie the game at 3-all. The Rams broke the game open in the fifth inning, scoring five runs to take an 8-3 lead.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Barron hit a sacrifice-fly to center field to score Bryant Cid. Peterson singled in the next at bat, pushing Tony Amaral across and moving John Forestieri into scoring position at second.
Burley walked to load the bases once more and Tyler Slayday singled to bring Forestieri home, putting Gavilan up 6-3 at that point. A single from Rex Lagman scored Peterson and with the bases loaded, Brennan Wilson was walked and Burley strolled home.
That’s all the Rams could muster up, however, as the Colts changed pitchers and got two quick outs to end the inning.
The home team scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut Gavilan’s lead to 8-5.
Cid scored again on an error in the top of the eighth and Burley hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth for the final.
Burley went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs scored, a triple, a homer and a walk in the game. Cid was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and was walked twice.
Matt Oxner got the win, improving to 7-2 on the season. He tossed seven strong innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking one.
Gavilan (20-11 overall, 11-9 in conference) will take on Mission College at 2:30 p.m. today in Santa Clara.
SOFTBALL
San Jose rocks Gavilan
Gavilan lost 23-9 to San Jose City College in its home finale Tuesday.
Stats and scoring from this game were not yet available.
The Rams (7-25 overall, 2-12 in conference) will play at Monterey Peninsula College at 3 p.m. today. They close out the season against West Valley College at 3 p.m. on April 21 in Saratoga.
