American River College defeated #1 ranked Cosumnes River College 5-4 in 11 innings on Thursday at Jerry Conway Field at CRC to take two of the three games in the season series.  The Beavers limited the hot-hitting Hawks to 5 hits over the 11 innings.  Freshman starter Kurt Johnson (Royal) threw 6 innings allowing just 2 hits, but 5 walks contributed to 3 runs being allowed. 

The Beavers got on the board first in the top of the first when Brayden Gomez (Bella Vista) laced a two out single to right to score 2B Robert Contreras (Antelope) who had reached on a hit by pitch.  CRC scored twice in the bottom of the first after a pair of walks and a single to left that was mishandled by sophomore Mike Hatfield (Del Campo) allowing both runners to score.  CRC added to the lead in the 4th inning after another pair of walks, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly. 

A.R.C. came back and shortened the lead in the top of the 5th after SS Jared Biggs (Del Campo) and 1B Kirby Broadbent (Oakmont) led off the inning with singles.  Brayden Gomez then hit a comebacker to the mound but Cosumnes was only able to get the out at 2nd, putting runners at 1st and 3rd.  Mike Hatfield then hit a ground ball to first in which the Cosumnes River first baseman tried to get the out at the plate but Biggs slid in under the tag to bring the score to 3-2.  A.R.C. tied the game in the 8th inning when CF Justin Jordan (Folsom) lined a two out single to right to score Hatfield, who had led off the inning with a single. 

The Beavers briefly took the lead in the 9th inning when Mike Hatfield hit a chopper down the 3rd base line that barely stayed fair to score Broadbent from 2nd, who had drawn a two out walk.  Cosumnes would answer back though, tying the game in the bottom of the 9th off of closer Ian Codina (Oakmont) on a two out single up the middle by Hawks CF Andre Gregory. 

Freshman RHP BJ Marshall (Valley Christian) came on to throw a scoreless 10th inning, then A.R.C. got the winning run in the 11th as Jared Biggs got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.  An errant pick off throw to first allowed Biggs to scramble all the way to 3rd base with nobody out.  Kirby Broadbent then drew his 3rd walk of the game to put runners at 1st and 3rd.  Brayden Gomez then hit a sharp groundball to 2nd, and the Hawks only play was a force out at 2nd, which allowed Biggs to score.  Marshall then finished off the Hawks in the 11th thanks to a couple of ground balls to first for the final two outs.

The Beavers were led by another 4x5, 2 double performance by Justin Jordan and a 3x6, 2 RBI game from Brayden Gomez.  Mike Hatfield was also 2x4 with a pair of RBI.

The Beavers return to action on Saturday at Beaver Field at 1:00 p.m. against Diablo Valley College, then will spend all of Spring Break on the road, with Tuesday and Thursday's games at Diablo Valley, and Saturday at Santa Rosa.