Career Day from Maiden Backs Solid Start from Armstrong, Hancock Baseball Tops Moorpark 11-3

Freshman Dylan Maiden collected three hits and 4 RBI, both career highs, to back a solid start from sophomore Walker Armstrong as the Allan Hancock College baseball team won 11-3 at Moorpark Saturday afternoon. With the win, Hancock improved to 2-4 in Western State Conference play and 9-14 overall. Moorpark dropped to 3-3 in league and 11-12 overall.

Hancock put together a two-out rally in the fourth inning. Josh Harmonay and Brendan Gomez hit back-to-back singles. Wyatt Coll stepped up and singled in Harmonay with the game's first run. Maiden followed with a RBI-single to drive in Gomez to push the lead to 2-0. Brandon Davis followed and reached on an error by the Moorpark first baseman allowing Coll and Maiden to score to cap a four-run rally.

Hancock added to its lead in the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Maiden stroked a double to the gap to drive in Daniel Curiel, Kyle von Tillow and Gomez and give the Bulldogs a 7-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs rallied again in the eighth when Curiel and von Tillow hit back-to-back singles. Harmonay delivered a RBI-double to score Curiel and move von Tillow over to third. Gomez grounded out to third, but earned an RBI as von Tillow crossed the plate to give Hancock a 9-0 lead.

Moorpark finally got to Armstrong in the eighth and scored three runs aided by one Hancock error to climb to within 9-3. However, the Bulldogs got two runs back in the ninth. Maiden doubled, moved to third on a ground ball and scored on a sacrifice fly from Nash Ackerman. Curiel padded the lead with a RBI-double that sent home Chad Jones with Hancock's 11^th run of the game.

Overall, Hancock finished with 11 hits. Maiden enjoyed a career day at the plate. The Cabrillo High School graduate went 3-for-5 with two doubles, 4 RBI and two runs scored. Harmonay went 2-for-4, with a double and RBI. Curiel went 2-for-5 with two runs, one double, a walk, and an RBI.

Armstrong earned the victory with seven solid innings. He scattered five hits and walked three, but struck out eight Raiders. The three runs he allowed were unearned. Maiden chipped in two shutout innings to close out the win. The freshman struck out three and walked two.

Hancock will return to action Tuesday, March 21, when it opens a home-and-away series with Ventura. First pitch will be at 2:30 p.m.