Bulldogs Topple Sequoias 10-1 in Season Opener

Nathan Thompson and Kyle Smith helped lead the Bulldogs to a victory in their 2014 season opener on Thursday in Bakersfield. The 15^th ranked Allan Hancock College baseball team beat the College of Sequoias 10-1 to open a three-day tournament hosted by Bakersfield College.

The Bulldogs got on the board first in the third inning when Jacob Witkowski singled and advanced to second on a throwing error the third baseman, which allowed Zach Nyman to score from second base with the first run of the game. Cayman Hoggard, a sophomore transfer from Allegany College, lofted a sacrifice fly to left field later in the inning that allowed Roger Guillen to score to give Hancock a 2-0 lead.

Sequoias scored one in the fourth, but Hancock responded with two more runs in the sixth on a 2-run double from Smith. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate finished the game with 3 RBI.

Witkowski added a RBI-single in the seventh to plate Nyman and pad Hancock's lead at 5-1. Cameron Ketchen, a freshman from Arizona, tripled in the eighth inning to score Hoggard and build a 6-1 advantage.

The Bulldogs blew the game open with four runs in the ninth. Felipe Gonzalez ripped a 2-run single, Ron Regalado hit a sacrifice fly to center and Smith drew a bases loaded walk.

The Bulldogs collected 14 hits led by three from Righetti High School graduate Ryan Bendele. Nyman and Witkowski had two hits apiece.

Thompson, a sophomore, scattered three hits over six innings. The left-hander allowed one run and struck out five to earn the victory. The Santa Ynez High School graduate led the Bulldogs with a 6-3 record, 2.17 ERA and 74 strikeouts.

Jesse Clingman scattered two hits in two shutout innings of relief for the Bulldogs, while John Thomas struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning. Hancock pitchers limited the College of Sequoias to five hits.

The Bulldogs return to action on Friday at 7 p.m., against host Bakersfield College. Hancock was ranked 15^th in the Southern California Coaches Preseason Poll, while the Renegades were tabbed 13^th. Bakersfield defeated Porterville 4-1 in its season opener on Thursday.