No. 19 Hancock Baseball Wins Season Opener 9-3 Against L.A. Pierce

Freshman Cordell Bowie and sophomore Ryan Peinado drove in two runs apiece, and sophomore pitcher Walker Armstrong threw five solid innings to help the Allan Hancock College baseball team win its season opener 9-3 over L.A. Pierce Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No.19 in the Southern California Preseason Coaches Poll, cashed eight errors by the Brahmas into six unearned runs.

Armstrong, a St. Joseph High School graduate, allowed one run in five innings. The right-hander struck out four, issued two walks, and scattered four hits. Freshmen Nate Alcantar and Dylan Maiden each threw two innings of relief for the Bulldogs. Alcantar struck out one, scattered three hits, and allowed two runs. Maiden, a Cabrillo High School graduate, allowed four hits and struck out two in two shutout innings.

Peinado and freshman right fielder Brendan Gomez, a Santa Ynez High School graduate, had two hits apiece to lead Hancock's seven-hit attack. Hancock drew nine walks, two apiece by Bowie, freshman catcher Nash Ackerman, and Chris Taitague.

The Brahmas struck first in the top of the first on a two-out single, a wild pitch, and a basehit from Will Picketts. After stranding six runners in the first three innings, Hancock broke through for two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Gomez singled with one out and Ackerman walked. Sophomore Kyle von Tillow reached on an error by the Pierce centerfielder that allowed Gomez to score the tying run. After a wild pitch advanced Ackerman to third and von Tillow to third, Josh Harmonay reached on an error by the shortstop allowing Ackerman to score to give Hancock the lead for good at 2-1. Hancock struck again in the sixth when Gomez scored on a fielder's choice, and Daniel Curiel delivered a two-out single to score von Tillow and make it 4-1 Bulldogs.