Giants continue series with Merced after rolling in opener

Samuel Bower delivered his best start of the season to lead College of the Sequoias' baseball team to a Central Valley Conference-opening 7-0 victory over Merced on Feb. 18.

Bower, a freshman right-hander out of Redwood High, pitched seven shutout innings to improve to 2-0. He gave up six hits, issued no walks and struck out four as the Giants improved to 13-1 overall.

Bower's previous best outing was four shutout innings during the Giants' 5-1 win at Allan Hancock on Jan. 28.

Anthony Torres (Exeter) completed the shutout against the Blue Devils (5-6, 0-1) by pitching the final two innings, giving up one hit while striking out three.

Elijah Munoz (Redwood) gave COS the only run it would need when his fielder's choice grounder allowed Maverick Souza (El Diamante) to score in the bottom of the second inning.

Donte Valdez (Redwood) ripped a run-scoring double to highlight a two-run fifth inning, Isaac Gonzalez (Redwood) had an RBI single during a two-run sixth inning, and Mike McKernan (Mt. Whitney) and Davis Beavers (Redwood) drew bases-loaded walks during a two-run seventh inning as the Giants pulled away.

Valdez led COS' 10-hit attack with a pair of singles and a double.

The Giants' CVC-opening series against the Blue Devils continues at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Merced and concludes at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 at COS.

Next week, the Giants face Taft (2-10, 0-1) in a CVC series set for 2 p.m. Feb. 25 on the road, 2 p.m. Feb. 27 at home, and 1 p.m. Feb. 29 on the road.