Thompson Hurls Another Gem, Bulldogs Beat Bakersfield 5-1

Nathan Thompson threw eight shutout innings as the Allan Hancock College baseball team received another stellar performance from a starting pitcher in a 5-1 victory over Bakersfield on Tuesday afternoon at John Osborne Field. The Bulldogs won their fourth straight game and improved to 6-1. Hancock, which was ranked 15^th in the regional preseason poll, defeated Bakersfield, which was tabbed 13^th, for the second time this season. The Renegades fell to 2-6.

Thompson allowed just two hits and walked three. The sophomore left-hander struck out five Renegades. The Santa Ynez High School graduate improved his record to 3-0 and lowered his earned run average to 0.45 over 20 innings. He has allowed just eight hits and one earned run with 19 strikeouts.

The Bulldogs scored in the bottom of the first inning without recording a base hit. Bakersfield's starting pitcher Allan Winans walked Jacob Witkowski and Ryan Welker to start the frame. Cameron Ketchen laid down a sacrificed bunt to advance both runners. Then with Felipe Gonzalez at the plate, umpires called Winans for a balk to allow Witkowski to trot home with the first run of the game.

Hancock did not collect its first hit of the game until Righetti High School product Ryan Bendele hit a one-out double in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs added to their lead in the fifth inning. Roger Guillen drew a lead-off walk and scored on a triple from Welker. The sophomore catcher came home on a RBI-double from Ketchen to make it 3-0. Cayman Hoggard singled to left to drive in Ketchen to cap a three-run inning. Hancock nearly made it a four-run frame, but Ketchen was thrown out at the plate by the left fielder after Bendele singled through the left-side of the infield.

The Bulldogs added a run in the seventh when Bendele was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Welker scored on the play and was one of the three Bulldogs who drew walks in the inning.

The Renegades scored their only run of the game in the ninth inning by virtue of an error.

The Bulldogs outhit the Renegades 5 to 3. They drew eight walks and had three batters hit by pitches. Bendele led Hancock with a 2 for 3 effort with one RBI. Welker and Ketchen each drew two walks, while second baseman Zach Nyman walked once and was hit twice by pitches.

Hancock improved to 4-0 on its current home stand. The Bulldogs welcome Canada on Friday, Feb.14. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. The home stand ends Saturday at 1 p.m., against Porterville.