Diablo Valley Edges Sacramento City in Extra-Inning Battle, 8-6

Diablo Valley College outlasted Sacramento City in a 10-inning thriller on April 8, 2025, at Union Stadium, taking advantage of late opportunities and three Panther errors to earn an 8-6 victory. The Vikings scored two runs in the top of the tenth and held on to snap a two-game losing streak.

Back-and-Forth Battle Unfolds

Diablo Valley struck first in the third inning. Nicholas Meadows grounded out to shortstop to bring home Elijah Scott, and Marcus McClenon's RBI single scored Zac Ragland to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead. They extended the margin to 3-0 in the fourth after Anthony Ricevuto scored on a passed ball.

Sacramento City responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kaden Isola's RBI single and Dom Agrella's run-scoring knock cut the lead to 3-2. The Panthers tied it in the fifth on Jackson Blakley's RBI bunt single, then took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on a solo home run from Brenden Murphy.

Late-Inning Drama Sends Game to Extras

The Vikings tied the game in the seventh when James Foley singled home a run and Joey Rusca came around to score on a defensive miscue. Sac City briefly regained the lead in the bottom half, with Blakley scoring on a caught stealing play gone awry to make it 5-4.

Diablo Valley responded again in the eighth, with Meadows singling home a run and Matthew Dashner driving in another on a fielder's choice, putting the Vikings back on top 6-5. But the Panthers forced extras in the ninth, as Isola ripped an RBI double to score Cal Elvis and tie the game 6-6.

Vikings Break Through in the 10th

Diablo Valley pulled away in the top of the 10th. Rusca singled in Meadows for the go-ahead run, and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Leo Paredes Williams brought home an insurance run to make it 8-6. Sacramento City went down quietly in the bottom half, sealing the win for the Vikings.

Key Performances:

Diablo Valley:

• Marcus McClenon – 3-for-6, RBI, R, SB

• Joey Rusca – 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB

• Nicholas Meadows – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, R

• James Foley – 1-for-3, RBI, BB

• Angus Olaes – 3-for-5, R

• Nicholas Meadows (W, 3-1) – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 K

Sacramento City:

• Jackson Blakley – 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 R, BB

• Kaden Isola – 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, BB

• Cal Elvis – 3-for-5, 2 R

• Dom Agrella – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI

• Brenden Murphy – 1-for-5, HR, RBI, R