Baseball: Bulldogs Take Two in Santa Barbara Series

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College baseball team won twice in the three-game series against Santa Barba City College after a schedule shuffle due to inclement weather. The Bulldogs now hold an overall record of 16-10 and are 10-5 against Western State Conference foes while SBCC moves to 16-9 on the season (7-5 WSC).

Elijah Pascual led AHC at the plate throughout the series with a .417 batting average after going 5-for-12 while stealing one base. Pecskovszky recorded a team-high total of three RBIs en route to a .417 on-base percentage. 

Up next for Hancock is a home showing against Ventura College on Tuesday, March 28th, to start the next three-game series. Single-game tickets can be purchased here. As per usual, the ticketing gate will be cashless and fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets prior to arrival, but credit/debit card purchases can be made at the gate.

GAME ONE: AHC 4, SBCC 2 | BOX SCORE

Gavin Long put the Bulldogs on the board in the bottom of the first after scoring on a Vaqueros error before Niko Pecskovszky drove in one runner. Keelor Loveridge added to the effort in the fourth with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth before Santa Barbara snuck a pair of runners across the plate in the fifth. Scoring ended for both sides in the eighth inning with an RBI by Luke Wenzel. 

Bradley Waite picked up his second win of the season after four innings of work on the bump while Anthony Lopez secured the save by striking out four batters through the final two frames. Luke Kovach and Christian Dijkman also appeared on the mound but did not factor into the final decision.

GAME TWO: AHC 3, SBCC 2 | BOX SCORE

The hosting Vaqueros went ahead early in game two after a two-run rally in the bottom of the third before Carson Gomes drove in one runner in the top of the sixth to put Hancock on the board. Pecskovszky came through with the late-game heroics in the final frame after sending two runs home with a single. 

Lopez was credited with the win on the rubber after striking out four batters and surrendering just one hit through the final two innings. Nick Brown, who earned the start, and Lucas Earle also appeared on the bump. 

GAME THREE: SBCC 9, AHC 0 | BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs struggled to find offensive production at the end of the series after being shutout in game three. Santa Barbara registered two runs apiece in the first and fourth innings before posting five tallies in the seventh to end the scoring frenzy. 

Nate Wenzel was charged with the loss on the mound\ after tossing four innings. Dijkman and Dylan Pavletich combined to close out the final four frames en route to non-decision showings.