American River College got out to an early lead, gave it away, got it back, gave it away again, then finally got it back in the bottom of the 8^th to defeat Diablo Valley College 5-4 at Beaver Field on Thursday.  It was the second straight game that they got the game winning run against the Vikings in the 8^th inning.  The Beavers struck first, scoring twice in the bottom of the 2^nd to take a 2-0 lead.  The inning started with two quick outs, but 3B Will Floyd (Rocklin) singled to right then stole second.  SS Matt Clarke (Bella Vista) then singled up the middle to score Floyd and Clarke then stole second as well.  C Nick Huddlestun (Rocklin) then blooped a single to right to score Clarke. 

DVC answered back in the top of the 3^rd off of starter Collin Carriger (Bella Vista) who threw 7 innings, allowing just one earned run.  DVC's leadoff hitter in the 3^rd inning dribbled a grounder to short that went under the glove of Clarke for an error.  The next batter hit a ground ball to short for a sure double play, but 1B Lane Field (Whitney) dropped the ball.  Four of the next five batters for the Vikings singled to plate three runs in the inning and give DVC a 3-2 lead.  The score stayed the same until the 7^th when the Beavers attacked DVC's bullpen with a leadoff hit by Huddlestun, followed by a popped up bunt for the first out, then a pair of walks to load the bases.  LF Ray Henry (Colfax) then laced a single to right to tie the game.  DH Justin Hanlin (Whitney) then dribbled a ball up the first base line that allowed the go-ahead run to score. 

DVC managed to tie the game off of reliever Nick Perry (Rio Linda) as the first two batters singled.  A sac bunt and a ground out allowed the Vikings to tie the score.  A.R.C. came right back though in the bottom of the 8^th as Floyd led off with a walk, with Matt Clarke pushing him to second with a sac bunt.  Back-to-back walks to Huddlestun and RF Justin Bejarano (Elk Grove) loaded the bases.  2B Christian Murua (Grant) then scored Floyd with a sac fly to give the Beavers the lead for good. 

Sophomore Freddy May (Folsom, pictured) worked a scoreless but interesting 9^th inning to pick up his 5^th save of the year.  After striking out the first batter- it was the only batter that A.R.C. pitchers were able to strike out all day – he got the next batter to ground out to Murua.  May then walked the next batter – the Beavers only walk of the day – which was followed by an error on Will Floyd on a potential game ending grounder to third.  That brought up the Vikings' most potent threats, and one of the best hitters in the BIG 8 Conference, Jared Bannister with a chance to tie the game.  On Tuesday May faced Bannister with one out in the 9^th inning and Bannister walked after fouling off 7 straight two strike pitches.  Zhis at-bat would prove to be much shorter though, as Bannister hit a hard ground ball to short that Matt Clarke gloved and flipped to Murua at 2^nd to end the game. 

The two teams will complete the series tomorrow, Friday at 2:30 at Viking Field in Pleasant Hill.