Jags upset Renegades in a walk-off win during the bottom of the seventh inning   

After two days of heavy downpours, the San José City College (15-11, 4-4 Coast) were able to play with cloudless skies and extended their six-game winning streak after Deja Jimenez knocked in the winning run to beat the Ohlone College Renegades (8-16, 1-7) in a 4-3 home victory.    

Bottom of the seventh inning, and the Jags were down 3-2. Malia Venegas was the catalyst for the Jags' comeback as she began the inning with an infield hit.  

Haley Castro squared up the ball to left-center with a stand-up double and scored Venegas to tie the game 3-3. Pinch hitter Bella Giambruno walked after she was hit by a pitch, followed by Alaina Valdez, who smacked the ball up the middle to load the bases.  

The Renegades switched pitchers, but it did not faze Jimenez as she stroked the ball in the hole to win the game 5-6. The Jags sprinted out of the dugout to congratulate Jimenez, and the crowd was electric as they roared in excitement.  

Jimenez made an impact throughout the game by going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and one walk and throwing a runner out while catching.  

Valdez pitched the full seven innings with nine strikeouts, four hits, two earned runs, and one walk. Valdez gave up a two-run home run in the fourth inning, but the Jags' offense picked her up when the opportunity presented itself later in the game.  

Before the Renegades' homerun, the Jags did threaten to score with bases loaded in the third inning with one out, but the Renegades got the force out at home and caught the next batter's foul ball.   

When the Renegades took a 0-2 lead, the Jags answered back with Valdez hitting a leadoff double to left center and Karissa Smith bunting a sacrifice to move Valdez to third. Jimenez delivered an RBI single to add one run to the board.   

In the sixth inning, the Renegades scored their third run from an error by Jade Henry, who tried cutting off the line drive to her in right field, but the ball went under her glove as the runner on first raced home. Pinch hitter, Bella Caruso-Commisso, led the inning with a single to left field, and Jimenez drew a walk.  

Kiya Sandoval slammed the ball up the middle to help close the gap to 2-3 as the Jags slowly chip away. Valdez prevented the Renegades from scoring more runs in the seventh inning, and the Jags finished the day with a walk-off win.   

By Malaya Street

Photo:  Oscar Lopez