Clingman Shines in Hancock's 3-0 Win over Santa Barbara

(Santa Maria, CA) Jesse Clingman threw seven shutout innings in his first start and Henry Fienga earned his first save of the season as the Allan Hancock College baseball team returned home to secure a 3-0 win over Santa Barbara on Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs, who are ranked 9^th in the Southern California Regional, evened their Western State Conference record at 7-7 and 17-10-1 for the season. Sixth ranked Santa Barbara dropped to 8-6 in conference and 19-9 overall. The two teams split their four meeting this season with each team winning twice on its home field.

Clingman scattered two hits and three walks in seven shutout innings to earn the win. The freshman struck out five and picked up his first win of the season to even his record at 1-1. Zack Skipper threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning with one strikeout. Fienga, a left-hander pitcher from Cabrillo High School, struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory.

Hancock outhit Santa Barbara 10-2. Ryan Welker, Felipe Gonzalez, Cameron Ketchen and Roger Guillen had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs.

Hancock broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning when Guillen led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Angel Guillen. Welker, a sophomore and Santa Ynez High School graduate, delivered a two-out triple to plate Guillen to make it 1-0 Hancock. Gonzalez followed with a RBI-single to score the Hancock catcher to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs added another run in the fifth when Kyle Smith hit a sacrifice fly to score Ketchen, who had doubled.

Hancock continues its home stand on Saturday when first place Oxnard visits John Osborne Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The Condors are ranked #1 in the regional. The Bulldogs are hosting Youth Baseball Day where children wearing their youth baseball jerseys get into the game for free. Adults accompanying the children get in for half admission.