No. 13 Hancock Baseball Opens Season with 4-3 Win Over Porterville

Zach Lampreia delivered a two-run single to help the Allan Hancock College baseball team open the 2015 season with a 4-3 win over Porterville in Bakersfield on Thursday night. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No.13 in the Southern California Preseason Coaches Poll, built a 4-0 lead after four innings and held on for the one-run victory.

With two outs and nobody on, Hunter Christensen doubled in the bottom of the first inning for the Bulldogs. Catcher Riley Joyce followed with a run-scoring single to plate Christensen and give Hancock a 1-0 lead. EJ Morris, a St. Joseph High School graduate, promptly singled to move Joyce over to third. Porterville pitcher Blake Garrison uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Joyce to score and Morris to advance to second to give Hancock a 2-0 advantage.

Hancock starting pitcher Lucas Martin, a Lompoc High School graduate, threw four shutout innings for the Bulldogs. The left-hander struck out four and scattered three hits. Hancock doubled its lead in the fourth with Lampreia singled home Justin Daraban and Angel Guillen.

Conner Loeppky picked up the win with two innings of relief. He allowed one run, two walks, and two hits with four strikeouts. Skyler Bischoff allowed an unearned run in the seventh. He did not allow a hit and walked one batter. Matt Shackley picked up the save by throwing the final two innings. He allowed two hits, two walks and fanned one. He allowed a solo home run to Ivan Galindo in the ninth, but recorded the final two outs to secure the victory.

Hancock outhit the Pirates 10 to seven. Christensen, a freshman outfielder, Joyce, and Guillen, a Pioneer Valley High School graduate, had two hits apiece. Both of Christensen's hits were doubles. Joyce and Ellis Gerussi-Turner also had two-baggers. Guillen added a stolen base.

The Bulldogs continue their run in Bakersfield on Friday at 11 a.m. against College of the Sequoias, the fourth ranked team in the Northern California Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs face the host Renegades Saturday at 7 p.m.