After losing two straight games, the Rams were determined not to drop a third.
It took 12 innings, but Gavilan snapped its skid and beat Canada College 8-7 at home Saturday.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th, Matt Peterson reached on a fielder’s choice to send Rex Lagman across the plate for the winning run.
Gavilan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Bryant Cid grounded out to third, but it was enough to score Peterson.
Canada answered with three runs in the top of the second and increased its lead to 5-1 with two more in the third.
Erik Barron led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and scored on the next play. John Forestieri singled and reached second off a Colts’ error, which provided ample time for Barron to cross home plate. Forestieri cut Canada’s lead to 5-3 when he scored thanks to a single from Lagman.
Both teams got a run in the fifth, putting the score at 6-4 in favor of the Colts.
But Gavilan got within a run in the bottom of the sixth following a sac fly from Tyler Slayday to score Edgar Arriola. Canada got it right back in the top of the seventh to increase its lead to 7-5.
The Rams tied it up in the bottom of the eighth. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases for Gavilan, putting Forestieri 90 feet from home plate. He came home on a passed ball to get his team within one and another walk pushed Lagman across the plate to even the score.
Lagman led the Rams with a 4 for 5 showing. He scored two runs and had an RBI. Peterson had two hits in five at bats and drove in two RBIs, scored a run and walked. Forestieri was 1 for 4 with two runs scored and a walk.
Matt Oxner got the win on the bump. He went allowed just three hits in four innings and struck out three.
Gavilan also lost 2-1 to San Francisco City on March 17 and 14-4 to West Valley College on March 19. The Rams are now 14-7 overall, 7-4 in conference play. They’ll be back on the diamond at 2:30 p.m. today to face Hartnell in Salinas.
SOFTBALL
Rams get first conference win
The bat of Mari Rodriguez was red hot for the Rams as they notched their first conference win of the season.
Rodriguez went 3 for 4 and had five RBIs in Gavilan’s 13-12 win over Chabot College March 17 at home. She had a double, a triple and walked in the game.
Chabot scored two runs in the top of the first, but Gavilan answered with four to take a 4-2 lead.
SAND VOLLEYBALL
Rams drop two at Rio Del Mar
Gavilan lost both its contests Friday at Rio Del Mar Beach in Aptos.
Feather River topped the Rams 4-1, while Cabrillo swept them 5-0.
Stats from these games were not available.
Gavilan will be back in the sand at noon on April 3. It will face Cabrillo and Foothill at Rio Del Mar Beach.
The Gladiators regained the lead, 5-4, with three runs in the top of the second but it would be short lived.
The Rams notched six runs in the bottom of the third to jump out to a 10-5 lead.
Chabot scored five in the five and Gavilan pushed one across in the bottom of the inning to make it 11-10 heading into the sixth. The Gladiators added a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to lead 12-11, but Gavilan finished the fight with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Arianna Ortega went 3 for 5 with two triples, two runs and an RBI. Brittani Newman was 4 for 5 with three runs scored and an RBI for Gavilan. She also had five stolen bases. Crissy Simpson scored four times, had an RBI and walked twice. Anissa Martinez went 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs. She also hit a triple.
Samantha Parraz racked up three RBIs on two hits and scored a run.
Erica Baxter got the win in the circle. She allowed 12 runs—eight earned—on 13 hits through seven innings of work. She walked two and struck out three Gladitors.
Gavilan (6-20 overall, 1-7 in conference) will be back in action at 3 p.m. today at the College of San Mateo.
