Bulldogs Drop Tight 2-1 Decision to Canyons

The Allan Hancock College baseball team threatened in the final two innings, but could not deliver the clutch hit in a 2-1 loss to College of the Canyons on Thursday afternoon. The Bulldogs dropped to 2-6 overall, while Canyons improved to 5-2.

Connor Loeppky started and went five innings for Hancock. He allowed two runs, five hits, walked one, and struck out six. The freshman took the hard luck loss and evened his record at 1-1. Diego Rodriguez, a Pioneer Valley High School graduate, threw four innings of shutout relief for the Bulldogs. The freshman struck out one and allowed just two hits and one walk.

Hancock took an early 1-0 lead when Colby Barrick led the bottom of the first with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Colton Studebaker. William Bierlein drew a two-out walk and forced the Canyons' catcher to make an errant throw allowing Barrick to score.

The Bulldogs carried a 1-0 lead into the fourth until Dylan Freyre and Roy Verdejo hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game 1-1 against Loeppky. Canyons rallied in the fifth when Tyler Ryan singled and moved to second on a basehit from Colton Burns. Two wild pitches allowed both runners to advance, one of which brought home Ryan with what proved to be the difference.

Hancock put two runners on in the eighth inning off reliever Jase Young when Carver Tippett singled and Hunter Christensen drew a one-out walk. Young retired the next two batters, including a line drive out to right field off the bat of Barrick.

Studebaker led off the bottom of the ninth with a double over the left fielder's head prompting Canyons to bring in Jose Haros. The sophomore struck out the next three hitters to preserve the victory for the visiting team.

The Bulldogs collected five hits, two from Studebaker and one apiece from Barrick, Bierlein and Tippett.

Hancock returns to action on Saturday when it opens conference play at 1 p.m. at home against Ventura.