SANTA CLARITA – Catcher Noah Matsumoto went 2 for 4 with a double and triple to lead West Los Angeles College at the plate in a tough 6-5 loss at College of the Canyons on Tuesday.

The Wildcats held a 5-2 lead after six innings of the Western State Conference South Division game before the Cougars scored a run in the seventh and went ahead by scoring three times in the eighth to hand West LA the loss.

West LA set the tone early, scoring a run in the top of the first thanks to an RBI double by Jesus Sanchez. The Wildcats added two runs in the third, getting a run thanks to a COC wild pitch and an RBI single from Kai Hershberger.

West LA extended its lead to 4-0 in the fourth after a Canyons error allowed George Eaves to score.

Canyons started its comeback in the fourth by scoring a run and adding another in the fifth. West LA got one of those runs back after Matsumoto smacked a triple that drove in Eaves to give the Wildcats a 5-2 advantage.

Matsumoto, Nathan Nykaza (2 for 5), Sanchez (2 for 4, run, RBI), and Eaves (2 for 3, 2 runs) all had two hits each for West LA.

Henry Castillo turned in a solid effort in the start for the Wildcats. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits. Anthony Rubio took the loss after giving up the final four COC runs.

West LA fell to 5-19 overall and 2-8 in Western State Conference South Division play. The Wildcats will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they host Canyons on Thursday (Mar. 31) at 2:30 p.m.