Tuesday's epic Coast Conference matchup between state No. 1 West Valley and No. 3 College of San Mateo had everything one would expect from two premier powerhouses: timely hitting, power at the plate, a never-say-die mentality and just enough pitching to keep it close. But in the end, it was West Valley's defense that set the tone and carried the Vikings to a 5-3 come-from-behind win over the Bulldogs in blustery San Mateo.

West Valley 3rd-baseman Rylee Gomez decided she was going to shut down the hot corner from the 1st inning on with ground ball and line drive putouts that included a bases-loaded, 3rd-inning-ending groundout and spectacular line drive stabs in the 6th and 7th, when it mattered most. The rest of West Valley's infield - Andrea DeJesus (SS), Alina Perez (2B), Raylene Cruz (1B) and Makayla Villapando (C) - was equally flawless. Left fielder Jasmine Mixco had three big flyball grabs, but it was center fielder Tyla Arbuckle who turned in one of WVC's defensive gems of the year. Arbuckle ended the 4th with a full-speed, just-off-the-turf diving catch of a Taija Warren liner that stranded Keithleen Gonzalez at second.

The Vikings (23-1, 2-0 Coast) got on the board early with a two-run 1st highlighted by Mixco's double off the center field fence that brought home DeJesus, who had singled and stolen second. The Vikings loaded the bases for Alexis Bojorquez-Nava, who singled in Cruz for a 2-0 WVC lead. The lead would hold up for only two more innings.

The Bulldogs (18-2, 1-1) pushed across three runs in the home half of the 3rd, keyed by consecutive RBI singles from Ava Mendoza and Love Cabanas. CSM's 3-2 lead evaporated a half inning later.

After DeJesus drew a two-out walk and again stole second, Mixco drove her in with a single up the middle to tie it up. The Vikings would retake the lead in the 4th on a Gomez solo bomb, her third longball of 2025, to center, and then put it away in the top of the 7th when Villpando's liner to extreme right just kissed the line for a triple that brought home Adriana Diotalevi, pinch-running for Brianna Chambers Lee who had stroked a one-out single up the middle. The Bulldogs threatened with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the 7th, but, per the the theme of the day, Katie Johnson lined out to Gomez for out number two. WVC reliever Alysia Elizarrey got Mendoza swinging to end it.

Mixco finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Bojorques-Nava and DeJesus, who also scored two runs, each had two hits. Elizarrey spun four shutout innings to earn the win in the circle.

The Vikings finish the week at home against Chabot (1-17, 1-1) Thursday at 3:00pm and with a non-conference twinbill against Merced (3-11) Saturday. Game times are noon and 2:00pm.