AVC EDGES VICTOR VALLEY 5-4 WITH A LINSTROM WALK-OFF HIT

PHOTOS by Byron Devers

Marauder Baseball improved to 7-4 as they beat the Victor Valley Rams on Friday.

After a scoreless first two innings, the Marauders got on the board, scoring twice on a walk and an error. Victor Valley would come back to score a run in the 5th inning and then three runs in the 6th inning, including a two-run homer.

Down by two runs, Antelope Valley's offense would warm back up in the bottom of the 6th when Nathan Hernandez tripled to center field, scoring Anthony Cuellar. 

The Rams still led by a run going into the 8th inning, but it was Hernandez doing the damage again with another RBI triple. This time in the right-center gap to score Cuellar. Hernandez finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. 

With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Christian Garcia got on base with a single. Nathan Duarte then doubled to right field, advancing Garcia to third. Frankie Linstrom then picked the best time to have his only hit of the game. He singled to left-center to score Garcia and give the Marauders a 5-4 win in dramatic fashion. Linstrom ended 1-for-5 with 2 RBI, while Garcia went 3-for-4 with 1 RBI. Anthony Cuellar finished 1-for-1 with three walks and three runs.

Starter Preston Johnston had six strikeouts in seven innings of work. Patrick Berry got his third win of the season and gave up zero runs off two hits.

AVC will travel to Barstow on Tuesday before returning home to play them on Wednesday at 1:00 pm.