Bulldogs Advance to Super Regional with 3-1 Showing in Round One

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - For the first time since 2014, the No. 5-seeded Allan Hancock College baseball team has advanced to the Southern California Super Regional after a 3-1 showing at John Osborne Field over the weekend. | TOURNAMENT HUB

The Bulldogs opened the round by eliminating No. 20 Cuesta College in a 7-3 decision on Friday afternoon before topping No. 12 Grossmont College, 5-4, on Saturday. The visiting Griffins avenged the loss on Sunday morning with a 7-5 victory to force the if-necessary elimination game that afternoon. Hancock responded in the elimination game with a 6-3 win to earn the advance. That victory also marked the program's 34th win of the season, setting a new school record, breaking the 33-win bar that was set in 1989.

Grant Seibt led all players through the series with nine RBIs and was one of four individuals to launch a shot over the fence through the five contests played. Jacob McMillan had a stellar showing at the plate, working towards a .400 batting average after 20 appearances, while Parker Schwake ended the first round with a .375 mark in the box. Trevor Jure (2.57) and Seth Tedeschi (2.70) posted the lowest ERAs in the bracket while Hunter Beck snagged two saves, bringing his season total to eight. 

AHC will now host the Super Regional after an upset in the #4 bracket of round one saw a Western State Conference rival squeak through to the next round. No. 13-seeded Santa Barbara City College will join the Bulldogs on John Osborne Field this week as the two programs fight through a best-of-three series to advance to the finals. Game one is scheduled for Thursday (May 7) at 2 PM, followed by game two on Friday (May 8) at the same time. An if-necessary will take place on Saturday (May 9) at 1 PM if the two teams split.

Single-day tickets are now available at ahcbulldogs.com/ticketing. Per the 3C2A guidelines, ticket prices are as follows: Adults - $12, Students - $8, Senior Citizens - $8, and Children (6+) - $8. Children under the age of six receive free admission. Please note that the ticketing gate is cashless and that season and/or conference passes are not valid for postseason events. Animals, other than service animals, are not permitted at the venue.

GAME TWO: ALLAN HANCOCK 7, CUESTA 3 | BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs used a decisive six-run stretch across the final three innings to pull away in game two of the SoCal Regional Tournament. After both teams traded runs early and remained locked in a tight contest through five innings, Hancock broke things open in the sixth. The home squad plated four runs in the frame, turning a 1-1 game into a 5-1 advantage and never looked back.

Seibt helped lead the offensive effort after driving in three runs, while the top of the lineup provided consistent pressure throughout the game. 

On the mound, Gustavo Crawford earned the start and the win for the Bulldogs while the pitching staff combined to hold Cuesta to three runs on eight hits despite issuing multiple free passes.

GAME THREE: ALLAN HANCOCK 5, GROSSMONT 4 | BOX SCORE

Hancock built an early lead and held on through a late surge by Grossmony to secure the one-run victory on Saturday. 

The Bulldogs came out aggressive at the plate, scoring in each of the first three innings to take a 4-1 advantage. They added another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-1, putting early pressure on the Griffins' pitching staff.

Braden Oliver used a sacrifice fly to deliver a key RBI in the fifth, which would prove to be a necessary cushion on the stretch for Coach Stevens' crew. Seibt drove in a pair of runs on the day while Schwake and Josue Garcia each plated one. 

AHC's pitching staff turned in a strong performance on the bump, limiting the visitors to just six hits while striking out nine. Seth Tedeschi was credited with the win after 6.2 innings of work while Beck secured the save. 

GAME FOUR: GROSSMONT 7, ALLAN HANCOCK 5 | BOX SCORE

Hancock struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Grossmont responded with a four-run third to take control early. The Griffins added three more in the seventh to extend their lead to 7-1 heading into the late frames.

The Bulldogs mounted their biggest push in the eighth, rallying for four runs to cut the deficit to two. The inning was highlighted by a grand slam from Seibt, who drove in four of Hancock's five runs. 

Chase Wise led the Bulldogs offensively with a three-hit performance, adding an RBI, while La'akea Ko reached base three times and scored a run. McMillan also contributed with a hit, two walks, and a run scored as Hancock finished with eight hits overall.

Ryan Cronk got the start for the pitching staff and worked four innings, allowing four runs while striking out four. Gabriel Moralez followed in relief, tossing three innings, before Beck delivered a scoreless eighth inning with three strikeouts to keep Hancock within reach.

GAME FIVE: ALLAN HANCOCK 6, GROSSMONT 3 | BOX SCORE

A three-run fifth inning proved to be the difference as Allan Hancock College knocked off Grossmont in the deciding game of the tournament.  

After falling behind early on a first-inning run, the Bulldogs responded in the fourth, plating two runs to take their first lead of the game. Hancock added to that momentum in the fifth, pushing across three more runs to build a 5-1 advantage they would not relinquish.

Grossmont threatened with a two-run fourth but was largely kept in check the rest of the way, as AHC's pitching limited the Griffins to just six hits and three total runs. The Griffins saw their best chance for the upset in the ninth after a walk and two hit batters loaded the bases with just one out. Ko, Wise, and Schwake combined for the 6-4-3 double play to close the inning and secure the win. 

At the plate, McMillan led the home team with a 2-for-5 performance, including a triple and an RBI. Talon Tucker provided the biggest swing for Grossmont with a two-run home run, while Hancock saw contributions throughout the lineup with eight total hits. Trent Martin picked up a pair of RBIs, despite going hitless in the lineup, after plating one runner on a fielder's choice and sending another home on a bases-loaded walk. 

Trevor Jure picked up his first win in his second overall start on the season after seven full innings of action. He struck out three batters while scattering five hits and surrendering three earned runs. Beck earned the save after tossing two scoreless innings down the stretch.

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