Welker, Bower Lead Bulldogs to 10-2 Victory in Bakersfield

Ryan Bower struck out 10 in seven shutout innings and Ryan Welker collected four hits as the Allan Hancock College baseball team routed host Bakersfield 10-2 on Friday night. The 15^th ranked Bulldogs improved to 2-0, while the No.13 Renegades fell to 1-1. Hancock has outscored its first two opponents of the season by a combined score of 20-3.

Hancock struck first against the Renegades when Welker, a Santa Ynez High graduate, walked with one out in the first. He scored on a double down the right field line by fellow sophomore and Santa Ynez High product Felipe Gonzalez. The Bulldogs added two more in the fifth on a bases loaded walk to Cameron Ketchen and a sacrifice fly from Righetti High graduate and third baseman Ryan Bendele.

Hancock made it 5-0 in the sixth on RBI singles from Welker and Caymon Hoggard. The Bulldogs sealed it with a five run seventh inning. Roger Guillen and Jacob Witkowski collected RBI singles, while Welker doubled in two more runs.

Bower, a sophomore right-hander from Lompoc High School, scattered two hits and one walk in seven shutout innings. He fanned 10 to earn the victory. Zack Skipper threw one shutout inning of relief with a strikeout. Sophomore reliever John Drury allowed two runs and three hits in the ninth inning.

Hancock tallied 12 hits to Bakersfield's six. Welker, a sophomore, led the way with a 4 for 4 effort, 3 RBI, four runs scored and two walks. Hancock drew 11 walks as Hoggard walked three times. Witkowski and Hoggard added two hits each. Seven Bulldogs drove in at least one run in the victory.

The Bulldogs close out their run at the Bakersfield College Tournament on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Porterville.