Cuesta jumped out early against visiting East Los Angeles but did not close out the game until the final frame.  Cuesta opened with three runs in the first two innings, including home runs by Mikey Bell (pict) and Sean Strittmatter, while Starting Pitcher Austin Taylor scattered four hits over the first five innings.  The game seemed in-hand, but then the Huskies came alive.  In the 6th, they chased Taylor and then added two more runs before the stretch to take the lead, 5-3.  The Cougars re-tied the game and took back the momentum when Mateos Melkesian scored from 3rd on Braydon Kimble sacrifice squeeze.  Cuesta went ahead to pound out four more runs, on five hits, and one fortuitous Husky error, in the 8th and recaptured the lead for good, 8-5.  Relievers Jackson Howell and Woody Brennan earned a win and a save, respectively, as they held the Huskies in check, while the Cougars reclaimed the lead.  Five Cuesta Batsmen enjoyed a multi-hit game, including Bell, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two driven in.  

The Cougars are back in action tomorrow against perennial contender Cypress College at 1 PM.  The Chargers are currently 17-9 overall and ranked #2 in the Southern California Regional Poll, while the Cougars are 19-7 and hold the 11th spot in the voters' hearts.