Bulldogs Upset Top Ranked Cypress 4-3 in 11 Innings

Jacob Witkowski singled home Zach Nyman in the top of the 11^th inning to help the Allan Hancock College baseball team upset Cypress, the top ranked team in the state, 4-3 in 11 innings on the road Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs, who were ranked 15^th in the Southern California Regional preseason poll, extended their winning streak to seven. They improved to 9-1 overall and captured their first victory over Cypress since 2010, snapping a streak of six straight losses to the Chargers. Cypress fell to 9-3 overall this season.

Hancock fell behind 1-0 after Cypress scored once in the bottom of the second inning against starter Nathan Thompson. The Bulldogs took the lead two runs in the third inning after Ryan Welker delivered a clutch two-out single to drive in Zach Nyman and Evan Aguilar. Cypress tied it 2-2 with a run in the bottom half.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the top of the fifth when Ryan Bendele led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nyman. Witkowski singled him home to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage.

The Chargers forced extra innings with run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Hancock closer John Drury. The St.Joseph High School graduate walked the bases loaded and allowed the tying to score on a sacrifice fly. After a scoreless tenth inning, Drury stranded the tying run at second base with a strikeout and by coaxing a flyball to left field for the final out of the game.

The winning run came in the 11^th off the bat of the sophomore Witkowksi. The sophomore shortstop led the Bulldogs with two hits in six at-bats. He and Welker each drove in two runs. Hancock recorded seven total hits, while the Chargers collected eight.

The Bulldogs did not commit a miscue in the field, while Cypress was charged with two errors.

Thompson, a Santa Ynez High School graduate, threw seven solid innings for Hancock. He allowed five hits, two runs, three walks and fanned four. The left-handed sophomore was in line for his fourth win of the season, but left with a no decision. Freshman Jesse Posey struck out two and scattered one hit in a scoreless eighth inning of relief. The win went to Drury (1-0), who threw three soild innings of relief. The sophomore scattered two hits and three walks to go with two strikeouts.

The Bulldogs continue their three-game road trip on Friday at Fullerton (6-3).  First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Hancock returns to Cypress on Saturday for a 12 p.m. contest.