Hancock Pitchers Roughed Up in 16-4 Loss to Pierce
March 20, 2014

Hancock Pitchers Roughed Up in 16-4 Loss to Pierce

Box Score
The Brahmas brought their bats to Santa Maria and routed the Allan Hancock College baseball team 16-4 on Thursday afternoon. Pierce College swept the home and away series from the Bulldogs, who were ranked No.5 in the latest Southern California Regional poll.

Hancock dropped its third straight game and fell to 4-4 in Western State Conference play and 14-7-1 overall. Pierce improved to 5-3 in WSC contests and 12-8-1 for the season. 

Jacob Witkowksi and Ryan Bendele had two hits apiece to lead Hancock's 10-hit attack. Witkowski, a sophomore shortstop, Bendele, Felipe Gonzalez and Angel Gonzalez each drove in a run to account for Hancock's scoring.

Pierce jumped on Hancock starting pitcher Marc Baker. The Nipomo High School graduate allowed two runs in the first and was charged with three more and was removed three batters into the second inning. Pierce scored five in the second and three more in the third against Jesse Posey.

Six Hancock pitchers allowed 16 runs, 14 hits and walked eight batters. Posey, a freshman, allowed 5 runs and three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Baker (4-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season after he allowed 5 runs in one-plus inning. He gave up two hits and walked five. Left-hander Zack Skipper was charged with 3 runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Jesse Clingman allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts in two innings. John Thomas and Righetti High School graduate Cody Thompson threw one shutout inning each for Hancock.

Three Brahmas, Quinn Conley, Dylan Tashjian and Zach Friedman had three hits each. Tashjian slugged a grand slam in the second inning. He finished with 4 RBI and scored four runs. Conley scored four times, while Friedman drove in four runs.

Hancock trailed 2-0 after the top of the first, but cut the deficit in half thanks to a sacrifice fly to right field by Angel Gonzalez to plate Welker. Pierce responded with five in the second and three more in the third to take a 10-1 lead. Hancock responded with three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to RBI-singles from Witkowski and Bendele. Felipe Gonzalez added Hancock's final run of the game with a fielder's choice.

The Bulldogs look to snap their three-game slide on Saturday at Ventura. The Pirates are 3-5 in WSC action.