Contested early innings ending in a 4-2 Comet lead skyrocketed Contra Costa College (6-24 overall, 2-13 in the Bay Valley Conference) to an 8-2 win over Yuba College (13-21 overall, 4-11 in the BVC) during the third game of their three-game series on the Baseball Field Saturday.

After the Comets drew first blood and scored the first run of the game in the third inning, Yuba came back with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. But the Comets responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and for the remaining five innings the Comet pitching and defense didn’t allow a run.

Comet infielder Tyler Brown said a lot of the 49ers’ threats were stopped before they became runs because of good pitching and strong communication in the field.

Brown said there were times when they were caught with the bases loaded.

The team has been focusing on learning how to collectively come back and not get “rolled over,” he said.

“Even if we lose momentum, we have to get it back and when a man was on base we got the important outs,” Brown said.

In fact, losing momentum was a key in their previous games against Yuba College.

In the first game of the series at home on April 10, CCC led 5-1 until Yuba scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Comets could not come back in the bottom of that inning and lost 8-5.

During the game in Marysville on Thursday, the Comets led 4-3 going to the bottom of the eighth inning. But by the end of the inning, Yuba had scored seven runs and defeated CCC 10-4.

Comet infielder London Penland said the third game of the series on Saturday was different.

“The defense played pitch-by-pitch. That way we were ready because we were focused on that pitch alone,” he said. “When the ball does get hit against us, the mentality of every player on the field is to get the ball and get an out.”

He said defensively and offensively the Comets executed their plays.

And it was in the bottom of the sixth inning when CCC took advantage of its momentum to extend its 5-2 lead to 7-2 and solidify their victory after those two runs were scored.

Comet Antonio Nobriega reached base on an infield single bringing Robert Swanson to bat. On a swinging Swanson strike, Nobriega stole second base. Then Swanson’s single to center allowed Nobriega to sprint from second base to home.

After Swanson made an out on the bases, the next hitter, Malik Pruitt, singled, stole second and then scored on a Penland single, giving the Comets a 7-2 lead.

Coach Brian Guinn said the team played up to its potential and got a much-needed win in that third game of the series versus Yuba. The Comets only other BVC win of the season came on April 7, a 5-4 victory over Laney College in Oakland.

Guinn said there are six games left on the BVC schedule — three-game series against Mendocino College and Napa Valley College — and he hopes his players keep executing their plays and keep up the momentum they gained with the win over Yuba.

He said the Comets are finally beginning to understand the game at this level and are clicking as a team.

“We have a young team, but they are getting used to the collegiate level and are getting better as they adapt to it,” Guinn said.

The Comets will face Mendocino in a three-game series starting on the road in Ukiah Tuesday (after press time) at 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday they will host Mendocino  on the Baseball Field at 2:30 p.m., with the final game of the series at Mendocino on Saturday at 1 p.m.

CCC will play Napa Valley next week, hosting two games, with the season finale on April 27 on the Baseball Field at 2:30 p.m.