San Diego City College’s outfielder Blake Mitchell drove in the game-winning run in the 11th inning to beat Imperial Valley, 10-9, on Tuesday, March 24, at Morley Field Ballpark.
This was the Knights’ (10-15, 3-8) first win since Feb. 28, when City last played the Desert Warriors (6-10, 0-11) and won, 16-6.
Mitchell, a sophomore from Fairview, Texas, was huge behind the plate.
He had six hits and three stolen bases in seven plate appearances, ensuring an end to the Knights’ nine-game losing streak.
Starting pitcher Max Carlos had a chance to earn his first win in his last five conference starts, as City led the entire way, 9-8, until the top of the ninth inning.
“Felt good to be out there,“ Carlos said. “It’s great to be in front of City fans.”
Closer Eli Montgomery was one out away from that save when he struck out pinch-hitter Kenneth Urquidez for the second out in the ninth, but IVC’s Angel Hernandez would score the game-tying RBI on a bunt single.
It would take extra innings to break the Knights losing streak in a game that lasted over four hours.
The Knights defense would hold IVC to one hit in extra innings, and six pitchers were used by City in a game that had at least a dozen wild pitches, advancing runners and scoring runs for both teams.
Chris Marquez, who started the game at shortstop, took the mound as the sixth pitcher and earn his first win, striking out two batters. He also scored two runs and had an RBI.
The win marks City’s third win against a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference opponent, with all of those wins against the last-place Desert Warriors from Imperial Valley.
Under head coach Chris Brown, City has not finished above .500 in PCAC play since the 2016-17 season, despite finishing 22-20 and 20-19 in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Next up for City is a ride 119 miles east to face the Desert Warriors on March 26 at 2 p.m.
This will be the fourth of five matchups between the two teams.
City holds the lead in this years series, 3-0.
This story was edited by Itzel Martinez and Chrisdan Peralta.
