Will Pires only pitched to a single batter Tuesday, but the Viking reliever struck out Monterey Peninsula's Matt McCartt with the bases loaded to secure West Valley's 6-5 win at Valhalla.
The comeback win was the 12th straight for the Vikings, who moved to 21-6 overall and 7-0 in the Coast-South. MPC dropped to 17-10, 4-3 in conference action.
The Lobos grabbed a 3-1 lead after putting a pair of runs across in the top of the third and another in the fourth. West Valley took a 4-3 lead with a three-run fifth, but MPC tied it up with a solo tally in the top of the eighth.
The Vikings broke the 4-4 deadlock with two runs in the home half of the eighth. Degan Davis opened with a double to right-center and would advance to third on a SAC fly to right from Ian Salbeda. Coach Bobby Hill sent in Andrew Wilford to pinch run for Davis. The move would pay off a batter later when Wilford scampered home on Karter Wong's fielder's choice.
Ryan Lordier, who was plunked after Salbeda's sacrifice, moved to third on the Wong FC and scored when an Alan Ramirez flyball to center was dropped. The Lordier run made it 6-4 and the insurance run would make the difference in the ninth.
The Lobos scored on a two-out bases loaded walk to climb to within 6-5. Hill called in Pires, who got McCartt looking to end the game.
The three-game WVC/MPC series continues Thursday (3/28) at MPC. First pitch is 2:30. The series moves back to Valhalla Saturday with a scheduled 1:00pm start.