Capo Valley beats Marina 5-4 in the ninth inning on a walk-off single by Adam Arroyo

Capo Valley players celebrate after the Cougars defeated Marina Tuesday (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Capistrano Valley pushed across three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and defeated Marina 5-4 on a bases loaded walk-off single by Adam Arroyo Tuesday night in a third round game at the Ryan Lemmon Invitational.

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Arroyo came up with the bases loaded and one out and his team trailing 4-3 in the ninth and delivered a long fly ball down the left field line to drive in two runs in the game at Orange County Great Park Stadium.

“I was just looking for a pitch that I could put a barrel on,” Arroyo said. “Our guys came through before me and it all came together at the end. I had a good feeling when it left the bat and I put a good swing on it.”

Nathan Benefeito had an RBI single to cut the Marina lead to 4-3.

Arroyo has had other big hits this season, according to Coach Adam Sorgi.

“He’s been a calming force in our lineup,” Sorgi said. “He’s somebody who has come up clutch multiple times before. We were lucky to have him up at that time. First of all, hats off to Marina for a great game played.

“We’re probably both a little low on pitching. Our guys both threw strikes and did what they needed to do and with the rules where you put a guy at second, someone’s going to win it and somebody is going to lose it. I was just so proud of our guys and hats off to them for doing what we needed to do and we got the big hit when we needed it.”

The game was tied 2-2 after seven innings forcing extra innings.

Under tournament rules, if a game is still tied in the ninth inning, each team starts with a runner at second base.

In the top of the ninth, Rocco Poppi drove in one run with a single and another run came home on an error putting the Vikings ahead 4-2 before the Cougars countered with three in the bottom half.

Capo Valley (12-6-2) got strong pitching performances from Daniel Lee who allowed one run in five innings. Lance Gardiner came on in the sixth inning and allowed one run. Garrett Broussard was brought on in the eighth inning and was credited with the victory.

“He came in, he’s a position player for us,” Sorgi said of Broussard. “Lance Gardiner came in and Danny Lee threw outstanding for us to keep us in the game. I couldn’t be happier with those guys. They threw strikes when they needed to and I’m just really proud of our resolves. It’s a really big team win for us.”

Marina (14-8) also got strong pitching from starter Jagger Iovinelli, who pitched the first 7 2/3 innings. He scattered eight hits and had six strikeouts. Alex Bernal came on to pitch the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Capo Valley took a 2-0 lead with two runs on an RBI single by Gardiner and an RBI double by Broussard.

But in the top of the sixth inning, Peppi walked and Andrew Sojka doubled to drive in a run. Sojka later scored on a wild pitch.

Marina had a chance to advance to the championship game of the 24-team tournament until the loss to Capistrano Valley.

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-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com