Pirates Blank Bulldogs 2-0 in Key WSC Battle

(VENTURA, CA) Shawn Domke threw a six-hit shutout as the Allan Hancock College baseball team lost a 2-0 decision at Ventura on Tuesday afternoon to open the final week of the regular season. The Bulldogs, who had won six of their last seven games and climbed eight spots to No.5 in this week's Southern California Regional Poll, dropped to 10-9 in Western State Conference play and 22-12-1 for the season. Ventura improved to 14-20 overall and 8-11 in WSC action.

Sophomore third baseman Ryan Bendele and Brooks Fages each had two hits for the Bulldogs. Both the Pirates and Hancock had six hits apiece.

Hancock's best scoring opportunity was in the second inning when Bendele led off with a double and moved to third on Fages' single. However, Bendele was thrown out at the plate on a ground ball to third base off the bat of Roger Guillen. Kyle Smith followed with an inning-ending double play grounder to second base.

The Bulldogs also loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Guillen struck out and Smith grounded into a fielder's choice to end another threat. 

The Pirates scored in the home half of the fourth when Michael Volaski doubled home Tyler Watson for the first run of the game against Hancock starting pitcher Nathan Thompson.Ventura added an insurance run in the eighth against Marc Baker when Harrison Crawford doubled in the Pirates' second run of the game.

Thompson took the loss despite allowing just four hits and one run in 7 1/3 innings. He dropped to 7-4 on the season. The Santa Ynez High School graduate walked three and struck out six.  Baker, a Nipomo High School graduate, allowed two hits and one run and did not record an out. John Drury threw the final 2/3 of an inning of relief for Hancock.

Domke allowed just six hits and did not walk a hitter. He struck out four Bulldogs and improved to 4-6. 

Hancock will try to build on its playoff resume on Thursday in the regular season finale at home against Ventura. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. at John Osborne Field

The Bulldogs will enter in third place at 10-9 in WSC play. Oxnard has already clinched the title and is 13-6 in league. Santa Barbara defeated LA Pierce 6-3 on Tuesday to improve to 11-8 and take sole possession of second place. Pierce is 9-10 in league. Only the conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the Regional Playoffs, though more WSC teams are likely to receive at-large berths when the brackets are released on Sunday.