Baseball can sometimes be a game of inches.

And other times it can be distances much shorter than an inch.

Compton College catcher Michael Heard was ruled to have had his foot off the plate on a force play while Melchor Flores raced home with what became the game-winning run in the 10th inning, as San Bernardino Valley College capped off a late rally with a walk-off 5-4 victory Saturday afternoon.

The Wolverines found themselves down early as miscues in the field led to early runs for the Tartars. Crixtian Taveras led off the game lining a single to right that skipped past right fielder Elias Pacheco, allowing Taveras to reach third. Jacob Ramirez followed with a single of his own to score Taveras, staking Compton to an early 1-0 lead. 

Compton doubled the lead in the second, as Michael Heard led off with a double and then scored three batters later on a soft ground ball fielders' choice by Noah Ford.

SBVC cut into the lead with a two-out rally in the third, as Ryan Callanan doubled on SBVC's first hit of the game. He scored on a single by Alec Castillo. 

Compton got the run back in the fourth, as another error allowed Bryan Vichot to score from second on a potential double play ball.

The Wolverines cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth, and Compton again took a two-run lead in the top of the eighth, setting up SBVC's late heroics.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Nathan Campos-Jaramillo led off with a double, then went to third on a wild pitch. Guillermo Velasco was hit by a pitch, and Carlos Montes came into run for him. Montes than stole second, trying to draw a throw that never came. Flores then singled home Jaramillo and Montes to tie the game. Compton brought in reliever Joshua Chavez, ending the rally.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines were getting solid work from their second pitcher of the game, Yahir Sotomayor. He came in in the sixth inning - following five strong by Justin Guzman - allowing one run on four hits and striking out six over the final five innings.

In the bottom half of the 10th, Flores led off with a double to right, and, after failing to move Flores over with a bunt, Travis Booth worked a walk. Anthony (A.J.) Mico then laid down a bunt, but the attempt to get Flores at third was late, loading the bases. Juan Ramirez came up as a pinch hitter and hit a grounder to shortstop Doug Allen, who threw home in time, but Heard's foot was ruled off the bag, giving SBVC the win.