No. 15 Hancock Baseball Comes from Behind to Beat Bakersfield 8-5 in Season Opener

Sophomore designated hitter Tim Mahoney hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning to lead the No. 15 Allan Hancock College baseball team to an 8-5 win at Bakersfield on Saturday afternoon in the Bulldogs' season opener. Hancock improved to 1-0 and handed the Renegades their first loss in three games in 2016.

The Bulldogs trailed 4-3 after seven innings. Hunter Christensen and third baseman Ryan Peinado singled to open the eighth for Hancock. Colby Barrick laid down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by the Bakersfield pitcher to load the bases with no outs. After Colton Studebaker flew out to shallow centerfield, Mahoney delivered a single to left to drive in Pienado and Hunter to give Hancock the lead for good at 5-4.

Hancock added three insurance runs in the ninth when Barrick doubled down the left field line to score Chris Taitague to make it 6-4 Hancock. Studebaker followed with a two-run single that scored Peinado and Barrick to give Hancock an 8-4 lead.

Studebaker finished with 3 RBI. Mahoney, a St. Joseph High School graduate, went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and one walk. Sophomore transfer Jacob Tonascia went 2 for 4 with one RBI. Peinado walked twice and scored three times for the Bulldogs.

Isaiah Ramos started on the mound for Hancock. The Righetti High School graduate allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings. He struck out two and walked one. The sophomore did not factor in the decision.

Jason Terrones, a freshman left-handed pitcher, earned the win with four solid innings of relief. He scattered four hits and one run. The Lompoc High School graduate walked two, but struck out seven in his debut.

Sophomore right-hander Skylar Bischoff earned the save. He struck out the final two batters of the game.

The Bulldogs took an early lead with a two-run third inning. Daniel Curiel hit into a fielder's choice allowing Mahoney to score the first run of the game. Tonascia followed with a double to center to drive home Curiel, a freshman second baseman. Curiel also stole bases.

Bakersfield tied it with two runs in the third, but Hancock regained the lead 3-2 on a RBI-grounder from Studebaker. Bakersfield added two in the fifth against Ramos to claim a 4-3 lead setting the stage for Mahoney's eighth inning heroics.

The Bulldogs will play a home and away series with West Hills College Coalinga. They'll play at Hancock on Tuesday, February 2 before playing in Coalinga on Friday, Feb. 5. Both games start at 2 p.m.