Armijo's Two Home Runs Give Dons Game One Win

Konnor Armijo (center) is congratulated by teammates at home plate following a home run.
Konnor Armijo (center) is congratulated by teammates at home plate following a home run.

In their opening game of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern Regional Playoffs the Dons pulled off a 4-3 victory over San Bernardino Valley College behind two home runs by sophomore catcher Konnor Armijo.

The two teams will resume the best-two-out-of-three series on Sunday, May 6 at 11:00 a.m. Game two can be watched live at SoCal College Sports. If necessary, a third game would be played approximately 30 minutes after game two.

The three-seeded Dons (30-7) struggled offensively against the Wolverines (21-15-1) as they managed only six hits in the game. But they made three of them count while also taking advantage of five walks.

After Valley took the first lead of the game at 1-0 on a RBI-single by Ryan Boeger in the top of the fourth, Tyler Madrid drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth. Armijo followed with his first home run of the game, putting the Dons up 2-1.

The Wolverines came back to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth when Mike Trevino hit a lead off single before stealing second base. Trevino then came around to score on a base hit up the middle by Adam Quintana.

The Dons answered an inning later when Dylan Jones reached on a one-out, infield single, stole second and later scored on a RBI-double by JB Bryant that put the Dons up 3-2.

But the Wolverines wouldn't go down without a fight as they once again came back to tie the game. Brett Torrence led the eighth inning off with a single to centerfield before a passed ball advanced him to second.

Ryan Miller then drew a walk before Rafael Romo advanced Miller and Torrence with a sacrifice bunt. After the Dons intentionally walked Jordan Dresner to load the bases, Boeger drew the third walk of the inning to score Torrence and tie the game at 3-3.

Matt Blanchard then came into the game and got Josh Alonzo to hit into an inning ending double play. Three pitches later, Armijo took a 1-1 offering and delivered with his second home run of the game to put the Dons up 4-3.

The Wolverines attempted one more rally but stranded two runners on base as Blanchard got the final two outs of the game with strike outs. Blanchard (2-0) earned the win after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings with the two strikeouts.

Andrew Bauer (4-6) suffered the loss for San Bernardino Valley as he allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits in eight innings.

Bryan Clough didn't factor into the decision for the Dons after leaving the game in the seventh inning with a 3-2 lead. He finished with a line of two runs on six hits over 6.1 innings pitched with six strikeouts.

NEXT: San Bernardino Valley at Santa Ana, Sunday, May 6 at 11 A.M.