Despite Three Hits from Both Daraban and Gerussi-Turner, Hancock Falls 7-4 to No. 3 Cypress at Spring Classic

(Santa Maria, CA) Freshmen Ellis Gerussi-Turner and Justin Daraban had three hits apiece, but a ninth inning rally fell short as the Allan Hancock College baseball team lost 7-4 to Cypress on Thursday afternoon to close out the annual Spring Classic. The Bulldogs fell to 10-18, while Cypress, the third ranked team in the Southern California Regional, improved to 20-8.

Hancock took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Ellis Gerussi-Turner and Colton Studebaker singled and first baseman Tim Mahoney reached on an error by the pitcher to load the bases. Zach Lampreia hit into a double play, but Gerussi-Turner scored on the play.

Cypress scored once in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 3-1 lead against Hancock starter Chance Miranda. The Bulldogs cut into the deficit in the fourth when catcher Riley Joyce hit a one-out double and Gerussi-Turner hit a two-out RBI single to make it a 3-2 game. Sophomore Henry Fienga entered the game for the Bulldogs in the fifth and allowed one run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Cypress added two more in the ninth against Matt Shackley to carry a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Wiliam Bierlein led off with a fly ball that was misplayed by the Cypress center fielder. Gerussi-Turner followed with a double and Colton Studebaker drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Mahoney grounded into a double play for the second time in the game, but Bierlein scored to make it a 7-3 game. Lampreia drew a walk to reload the bases for Daraban, who laced a single to drive in a run and make it a three-run deficit. Payton Smith entered out of the Cypress bullpen and struck out Bill Daly, who represented the tying-run, to end the game.

Daraban and Gerussi-Turner had three hits and one RBI apiece. Hancock compiled 10 hits overall compared to 13 by Cypress.

Miranda took the loss for Hancock to fall to 0-2. The left-handed starter allowed three runs and five hits in four innings. He walked one batter. Fienga allowed five hits and two runs, as well as two walks with one strikeout, in two innings of relief. Shackley was charged with two runs after allowing three hits in one inning of relief.

Cypress left fielder Brandon Brintz went three for five, while Jackson Willeford and Jacob Perry drove in two runs apiece.

The Bulldogs return to action next Tuesday, April 7, in Woodland Hills against L.A. Pierce.