Box Score (Valhalla, NY) - For the Westchester Community College Baseball team, the key to victory in 2018 may very well be late-game heroics ... even after the opponent enjoys some late heroics of their own. For the second straight game, the Vikings had to overcome an opponent who played scrappy every pitch of the game, this time downing Suffolk CC, 5-4 on Wednesday at Viking Stadium. With the win, Westchester improves to 7-5 for the 2018 season.

But it was not easy. Westchester jumped ahead 4-0 after scoring one run during the first inning, and three runs two innings later. The Vikings were beneficiaries of some sloppy play by the visiting Sharks as Suffolk walked four batters, hit a batter, and had three wild pitches during the first three innings of play. However, from there, Suffolk settled in, not allowing a WCC baserunner to advance past second base for six straight innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, Suffolk evened things, scoring four runs, while sending 10 batters to the plate, and forcing Westchester to change pitchers four times.

WCC nearly ended the game before extra innings, as the Vikings had runners at second and third base with two outs, but Suffolk was able to get a strike out to send the game into extra play.

After Suffolk stranded a runner to open the 10th inning, Westchester put the game in the bottom half of the frame. Jose Delacruz (New York, NY/George Washington HS) led off with a walk, and was replaced at first base by Sean Vanegas (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael). Christian Lovecchio (North White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) followed with a walk of his own. After a double-steal put runners at second and third base, CJ Sager (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) walked to load the bases with no outs. That's when Osorio came to bat, and promptly lined a pitch to left-center field to score Vanegas and put the game away.

Scottie Giordano (Croton, NY/Croton-Harmon HS) had two hits and a walk, and scored twice, and nine Vikings drew walks. Six different WCC pitchers took to the hill, including Triston Olmo (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley HS) who pitched more than seven mainly-brilliant innings. Olmo allowed three earned runs during the eighth inning, but that did not tell the story of how well he pitched. Olmo allowed no runs on five hits during the first seven innings. Michael Matalavage (Croton, NY/Croton-Harmon HS) earned the win in relief.

Westchetser returns home on Thursday, March 29 when the Vikings host Sussex Community College at 3:30 p.m. at Viking Stadium.