Thompson Leads Hancock to 4-0 Win over Santa Barbara in Battle of Ranked Teams

Nathan Thompson and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout as the No.5 ranked Allan Hancock College baseball team blanked No.3 Santa Barbara 4-0 on Tuesday at John Osborne Field.

The Bulldogs evened the two-game series with the Vaqueros and improved to 3-1 in Western State Conference play and 13-4-1 overall. Santa Barbara fell to 3-1 in conference and 14-4 for the season.

Thompson threw 7 2/3 shutout innings. The Santa Ynez High School graduate allowed just two hits, three walks and struck out six. The sophomore left-hander improved to 5-0 on the season. Freshman Jesse Posey allowed one hit and escaped a two-on jam in the eighth inning with 1/3 of an inning. Sophomore John Drury pitched a perfect ninth inning to close out the victory.

Hancock scored two runs in the second inning thanks to a two-out error. Felipe Gonzalez led off with a single. With two outs, Ron Regalado drew a walk to extend the inning. Kyle Smith laid down a bunt that catcher Patrick O'Brien picked up but threw away to first base allowing Gonzalez to score and Regalado to advance to third. Second baseman Angel Guillen, a Pioneer Valley High School graduate, helped the Bulldogs further capitalize on the error with a base hit to score Regalado and give Hancock a 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs doubled their lead in the sixth inning. Ryan Welker led off with a walk and moved to second on a bad throw to first on a bunt laid down by Jacob Witkowski. Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice bunt down the third baseline to advance both runners into scoring position. Righetti High School graduate Ryan Bendele drove them both home with a base hit up the middle to make it 4-0 Hancock.

The Bulldogs outhit the Vaqueros 5-3. Bendele, a sophomore third baseman, had two hits. Welker, Gonzalez and Guillen had one hit each.

Hancock continues its home series when No.2 Oxnard visits Santa Maria on Thursday, March13. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. Oxnard started the week 3-0 in conference and 13-2 overall.