Bulldogs Knock Off Top Ranked Oxnard 9-4, Collect Third Straight Win

(Oxnard, CA) Ryan Bendele and Roger Guillen collected three hits apiece, while Nathan Thompson pitched into the sixth inning to lead the Bulldogs to a 9-4 win at first place and top-ranked Oxnard on Tuesday afternoon.

The Allan Hancock College baseball team, which dropped to 13^th in this week's Southern California Regional Coaches Poll, improved to 9-7 in Western State Conference play and 19-10-1 overall. The Condors fell to 22-6 on the season and 12-4 in conference action. Three of the Condors' four WSC losses have been at the hands of the Bulldogs. 

Hancock took the lead for good in the first inning on RBI-singles from Cameron Ketchen and Angel Gonzalez. The Bulldogs added to their lead in the fourth when Evan Aguilar reached on an error by the second baseman that allowed Angel and Roger Guillen to score to make it 4-0 Hancock Jacob Witkowski followed with the first of his two RBI-singles to score Aguilar and make it 5-0 Hancock.

Oxnard scored twice in the sixth against Thompson, but the Bulldogs regained control with a three-run eighth fueled by a bases loaded walk drawn by Felipe Gonzalez and a two-run single from Bendele. 

After the Condors scored two in the eighth to make it a four-run game, the Bulldogs added an insurance run in the ninth on a single from Witkowski to plate Guillen to cap the scoring.

Hancock tallied 16 hits led by three from both Bendele, a Righetti High School graduate, and Roger Guillen, a Pioneer Valley High product. Angel Guillen, Witkowski and Ryan Welker added two apiece. Bendele and Witkowski had two RBI each. Roger Guillen scored three times, while Welker, a sophomore catcher and Santa Ynez High alumnus, crossed home plate twice.

Thompson, another Santa Ynez High product, earned the win to improve to 6-1. He allowed six hits and issued five walks in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed only two runs, one of which was earned.

John Thomas threw 2/3 of an inning of scoreless relief, while Cody Thompson, a Righetti High School grad, allowed three hits and two earned runs in two innings. He fanned three out of the bullpen. John Drury, a St. Joseph High School graduate, threw a scoreless ninth inning to secure Hancock's third straight victory.

Hancock entered a tie in the WSC standings with Santa Barbara headed into its game at L.A. Pierce on Thursday. The Bulldogs host the Brahmas on Friday prior to hosting the Spring Classic next Tuesday and Wednesday.