American River College opened the 2016 season at home in a light rain today and dropped the contest 7-6 to West Valley College.  The Beavers got off to a rough start as Sophomore Dillon Bowers (Dripping Springs, TX) was not sharp early.  The Vikings got on the board in the 2nd inning after a leadoff double by 1B Leobardo Silva.  The next batter laid down a bunt to advance the runner, but 3B Brayden Gomez' (Bella Vista) throw pulled 1B Kirby Broadbent (Oakmont) off of the bag.  West Valley got their first run on a one out safety squeeze, then scored again on a 2 out single by the leadoff hitter, Mike Svozil.  The Beavers tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, thanks to a two out, two run double by sophomore catcher Matt Elliott (Oakmont).  West Valley pulled back ahead with 4 runs in the 3rd when a pair of singles to start the inning was followed by an errant throw to third by Bowers on a bunt.  The error was followed by a walk, a single and a double to chase Bowers in the 3rd inning.  Freshman BJ Marshall (Valley Christian) came in and settled things down, finishing the 3rd and throwing a scoreless 4th.  A.R.C. got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the 3rd thanks to a 2 out, 2 run single by Brayden Gomez.  The Beavers tied the game in the 6th thanks to a 2 out, 2 run single by SS Jared Biggs (Del Campo).  A.R.C. had chances in the 7th and 8th innings to take the lead, but Matt Elliott struck out to end the 7th with Brayden Gomez at third.  CF Justin Jordan (Folsom) was at 3rd and RF Cade Parker at 2nd with one out when Biggs struck out, then Jordan was thrown out at the plate trying to advance on a wild pitch.  West Valley took the lead in the top of the 8th when Mike Svocil walked with two outs off of Beavers reliever Kurt Johnson (Royal, Simi Valley), then advanced to 2nd on a balk.  The Vikings RF Andrew Carter singled to CF on a 2-2 pitch to plate the game winning run.  Carter came on to pitch the 8th and 9th innings to notch his first save of the season. 

The teams are scheduled to play again on Saturday at Beaver Field at 1:00 p.m., weather permitting.