Bower Throws Two-Hit Shutout, Bulldogs Win 2-0

Ryan Bower struck out ten and threw a complete game, two-hit shutout as the Allan Hancock College baseball team defeated Canada 2-0 on Friday afternoon at John Osborne Field. 

Bower, a sophomore right-handed pitcher, improved to 3-0 on the season. He walked three and allowed only one runner to reach third base. The Lompoc High School graduate matched his season-high for strikeout in a single game and lowered his ERA to 0.41. He has allowed just one earned run in 22 innings. Bower has struck out 25 and allowed just eight hits and four walks.

Santa Ynez High School graduate Felipe Gonzalez accounted for both Hancock runs. He hit a run-scoring single in the third inning to score Cameron Ketchen from second to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Ketchen had walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the eighth when Jacob Witkowski walked and moved to third on a ground ball hit by Ryan Welker that was thrown away by the third baseman. Gonzalez grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Witkowski to score from third base. Gonzalez, a sophomore, finished 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and one walk.

The Bulldogs managed just two hits themselves, both by Gonzalez, but they made the most of them to secure the victory. Hancock drew eight walks, including three from Witkowksi.

Hancock closes its six-game home stand on Saturday against Porterville. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.