Cedar Valley Shakes Thunder on Davis' Walk-Off Slam
LANCASTER, Texas – Jaquavius Davis crushed a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Dallas College Cedar Valley past ninth-ranked Dallas College Richland, 20-18, in a dramatic win Friday.
Suns 16-year head coach Robert Dally inserted Davis as pinch hitter with the bases loaded, and the sophomore from Dallas launched an 0-2 pitch over the left-center field fence. It was his second home run of the season.
"I am very proud of Qua," Dally said. "He has been through a lot, especially the past two seasons. For him to stay engaged throughout the game, and execute when his number is called was elevating. We needed that win."
Cedar Valley (34-17, 14-12 Dallas Athletic Conference) improved to 13-7 at home this year. The Suns are scheduled to host the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Top 10-ranked Thunderducks (30-19, 18-8) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the rubber game of the series. Richland won the first game Thursday.
The Suns, who are receiving votes in the NJCAA Division III rankings, scored six runs in three separate innings in a game that swayed back and forth, with the Thunderducks taking control late only to see Cedar Valley respond with a thrilling comeback. Richland overcame a 13-4 deficit, scoring six runs over the fifth and sixth innings to pull within three.
Richland scored six runs in the eighth to take a 16-13 lead. After the Suns picked up a run in the bottom half of the inning, the Thunderducks added two more in their final at-bat to take a four-run lead. But Cedar Valley delivered with its backs against the wall, scoring six runs in the ninth.
Samuel Massi, Cesar Mora and Ryan Talley each had three hits for the Suns. Massi had a double, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base, and scored four runs. Mora doubled, drove in five runs, walked once and scored twice. Talley had a double, four RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
"I feel the bottom of the lineup, between Massi, Mora and Talley, helped extend the game, and kept us in reach," Dally said. "It was a team effort. I'm proud of my guys."
Cedar Valley's Caden Robertson went 2-for-5 with a home run. His home run pulled him in a tie with Richland's Aaron Biediger for the most in NJCAA Division III with 15. Robertson's 15 home runs broke the Suns' single season record set by Tyler Murray in 2004.
Suns closer Jeremiah Darrough (4-1) picked up the win in relief, working the final two innings. Landon Kinder pitched three innings in middle relief, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and no walks.
Cedar Valley scored 20 or more runs for the fifth time this season. The Suns have won all five of those games.
