Bulldogs Drop 10-9 Decision at L.A. Pierce

Despite a seven-run seventh inning to erase a 7-2 deficit, the Allan Hancock College baseball team suffered a tough 10-9 loss in 10 innings at LA Pierce on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bulldogs, who are ranked No.5 in the Southern California Regional, dropped to 14-6-1 overall. Pierce is 11-8-1. Both teams are 4-3 in Western State Conference play and one game behind first place Santa Barbara and Oxnard. 

The Bulldogs were outhit 17 to 8 in the loss. Felipe Gonzalez and Angel Gonzalez each had two RBI for Hancock. No Bulldog had more than one hit in the game. Hancock drew 10 walks. Austin Peters went 4 for 4 and Joe Moran had three hits and 3 RBI to lead the Pierce offense. 

Hancock trailed 7-2 into the seventh inning when the Bulldogs erupted for seven runs to take their first lead of the game.  Angel Gonzalez, a Paso Robles High School graduate, doubled home Roger Guillen for the first run of the inning. Ron Regalado singled home Gonzalez. Santa Ynez High School alumnus Felipe Gonzalez stroked a two-run double, and Ryan Bendele drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run to tie it at 7-7. Brooks Fages delivered a RBI-single to give Hancock its first lead 8-7 to extend the inning. Angel Gonzalez later drew a bases loaded walk in his second at-bat of the inning to cap the seven-run inning.

Hancock carried a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. With closer John Drury on the mound However, an error by shortstop Jacob Witkowski on a ball hit by the leadoff man started the two-run rally that sent the game into extra innings tied 9-9.   The Brahmas scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth on a two-out single against Drury.

Nathan Thompson was roughed up for seven runs and 10 hits in six innings. The left-hander walked three and struck out four. The Santa Ynez High School graduate was still in line for the victory thanks to 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief from Jesse Clingman. He struck out four and allowed two hits. Drury escaped a jam in the eighth inning, but allowed the tying runs in the ninth and the game-winner in the tenth.  Only one of the three runs were earned. The sophomore allowed five hits and issued two walks. He struck out four in 2 1/3 innings.

Hancock will look to snap a two-game losing skid on Thursday when it hosts Pierce at John Osborne Field. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.