Errors Prove Costly in Hancock's 8-3 Loss to Ventura in Season's Final Home Game

Sophomores Reed Odland and Jake Shusterich each clubbed home runs, but four errors led to five unearned runs as the Allan Hancock College baseball team fell 8-3 at home to Ventura in a Western State Conference game on Tuesday afternoon. After dropping their final home game of the season, the Bulldogs fell to 9-10 in conference and 19-19 overall. Ventura, which entered the day in a three-way tie for first place with Santa Barbara and Cuesta, moved to 12-7 in league and 24-14.

Odland got Hancock on the board first with a solo-home run in the bottom of the first ining, his team-leading fifth of the season. The Bulldogs added another run in the second when Ismael Hernandez and Mike McLean (pictured below) singled. Both runners advanced a base on a Ventura error. Ryan Pearce hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Hernandez to tag up and score to make it 2-0 Hancock.

Shusterich led off the fourth with a solo shot, his fourth of the season and 11th of his career, to push the lead to 3-0.

Freshman Trevor Garcia allowed just two hits through four shutout innings. Ventura rallied in the fifth on a RBI-single and a Hancock throwing error that allowed the second run to score. The Pirates broke out for six runs in the sixth off Garcia and reliever Daxton Miller. The Pirates compiled five hits and took advantage of two Hancock errors that led to four unearned runs.

Hancock put a runner on in each of the final four innings, but could not push another run across.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a run scored. The Bulldogs finished with six hits, half went for extra bases, including home runs by Odland and Shusterich, and a double from Zach Rudd.

Garcia (pictured below) took the loss after allowing six runs, only three were earned, and eight hits over five-plus innings. The freshman struck out three Pirates. Miller allowed two unearned runs and two hits in one inning of work. Isaac Baez struck out one and scattered three hits in two scoreless innings, while Hunter Bendele threw a scoreless ninth inning for Hancock.

The Pirates finished with 14 hits, led by left field Jacob Harris, who went 3-for-4, Riley Langerman, who finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, and Baylor Tovar who had three hits, two of them doubles, and an RBI. Travis Weston earned the win after allowing five hits and three runs over seven innings.

Hancock will look to play the role of spoiler on Thursday when the Bulldogs close the season with a 2:30 PM game at Ventura. Santa Barbara City College beat Moorpark 5-1 on Tuesday to remain tied for first with Ventura headed into Thursday's season finale at Moorpark. Cuesta lost to Oxnard 5-2 to fall a game back with a rematch at home set for Thursday against the Condors.