Curiel, Gomez, Trio of Pitchers Lead Bulldogs to 6-1 Win at LA Pierce

Daniel Curiel had two hits and scored three times, while Brendan Gomez hit a home run and drove in three runs to lead the Allan Hancock College baseball team to a 6-1 win at L.A. Pierce Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 this season against the Brahmas and 4-6 overall. L.A. Pierce dropped to 3-9.

Hancock scored first in the top of the first when Curiel singled and moved to third on a double off the bat of Quinntin Perez. Gomez followed with a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Curiel to tag up and score the first run of the game. The Bulldogs added another run in the third when Curiel, who had singled earlier in the frame, scored on an error by the Pierce second baseman.

Pierce got an unearned run back in the third against Hancock starting pitcher Nate Alcantar. It remained 2-1 Bulldogs until the seventh when Chris Taitague walked, Kyle von Tillow singled and both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. von Tillow started in center field for the Bulldogs after missing the previous five games due to an injury. Nash Ackerman walked to load the bases. Josh Harmonay stepped into the box and was hit by a pitch to force in Taitauge to give Hancock a 3-1 lead. Then in the ninth, Harmonay legged out a leadoff triple and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1 Bulldogs. Curiel walked and moved to second on a ground ball. Gomez followed with a two-run home run over the fence to give the Bulldogs a 6-1 lead.

Curiel went 2-for-4 with one walk and three runs scored. Gomez went 1-for-2 with 3 RBI, a walk, and his team-leading second home run of the year. The Santa Ynez High School graduate also leads the team with 10 RBI. Walker Armstrong, Harmonay, Perez, and von Tillow had one hit apiece.

Alcantar started on the mound and went the first three innings. The freshman allowed three hits, one run, issued one walk and struck out one hitter. Will Dowell followed Alcantar on the mound with four shutout innings. The freshman allowed four hits and struck out three to earn the win and improve to 3-1 on the year. Armstrong earned a save with two shutout innings of relief. He struck out two to help preserve the victory.

The Bulldogs will continue their four-game road trip at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at Cypress to begin a stretch of three games in three days. Hancock will play at Irvine Valley Friday, Feb. 24, and Cypress on Saturday, Feb. 25