Bulldogs Edge Cougars 4-3, Improve to 2-0 in Conference

A two-run first inning helped propel the No.3 Allan Hancock College baseball team to a 4-3 win over rival Cuesta College at John Osborne Field on Thursday afternoon. The Bulldogs completed a two-game sweep over the Cougars to open Western State Conference play. The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 in conference and 12-3-1 for the season. Cuesta dropped to 0-2 in WSC action and 4-11 overall.

Hancock recorded nine hits and won despite committing five errors. Felipe Gonzalez and Ryan Bendele had two hits and one RBI apiece. Second baseman Angel Guillen entered the game in the third inning for Zach Nyman and went 2 for 3. Evan Aguilar went 1 for 1 and walked three times. Ryan Welker was hit by two pitches, including one with the bases loaded to force in a run that provided the margin of victory.

After struggling in his last outing, Marc Baker started for the Bulldogs and pitched 5 2/3 innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. The sophomore scattered three hits and two runs.  He struck out six, including three straight Cougars after Cuesta put runners at second and third with nobody out in the third inning. Zack Skipper pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief, while John Drury earned the save with 1 1/3 shutout innings. Skipper allowed one unearned run in the eighth inning and two hits with one strikeout. Drury, a St. Joseph High School graduate, struck out one Cougar. The three Hancock pitchers combined to limit Cuesta to six hits.

Hancock scored twice in the first inning against Cuesta starting pitcher Jackson Gentes. With one out, Ryan Welker was hit by a pitch. He moved to second on a base hit from Jacob Witkowski and later scored on a single from Felipe Gonzalez. Righetti High School graduate Ryan Bendele delivered Hancock's third straight base hit to plate Witkowski to make it 2-0 Bulldogs after one. Hancock added to its lead in the third when Witkowski walked to lead off the frame and moved to second on a single to center from Gonzalez. Bendele advanced the runners 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Witkowski later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Hancock.

Cuesta scored a run in the fourth by virtue of a single and two wild pitches uncorked by Baker. The Cougars added another run in the top of the sixth aided by a hit batman, a wild pitch and an error from Baker to make it 3-2.

Hancock regained a two-run lead in the bottom half when Welker was pelted by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded. Guillen, who had singled for the second straight at-bat, trotted home from third to make it 4-2 Bulldogs.  

Cuesta rallied for a run in the eighth assisted by another Hancock error. Drury entered the game to coax a ground ball to end the threat. The sophomore retired Cuesta in order in the top of the ninth to seal the victory.

Hancock opens another showdown with a Central Coast rival on Saturday, March 8, when the Bulldogs travel to Santa Barbara. First pitch is at 1 p.m. Lompoc native Ryan Bower, who is 4-0, is scheduled to start on the mound for the Bulldogs.

The Vaqueros are ranked No.2 in the SoCal Regional and started the season on a 10-game winning streak. SBCC opened conference with two wins over Ventura this week. Santa Barbara is 2-0 in conference and 13-3 overall. Hancock hosts the Vaqueros on Tuesday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m.