Three-Run Ninth Completes Comeback, Hancock Wins 7-6 at Ventura

Josh Harmonay slugged a two-run home run and Dylan Maiden legged out an inside-the-park home run in the top of the ninth inning to fuel a thrilling 7-6 come-from-behind win for the Allan Hancock College baseball team at Ventura College Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs improved to 8-10 in Western State Conference play and 16-22 overall. The Pirates dropped to 9-9 in league and 19-19 on the season.

After Harmonay cleared the fence with a twor-run shot to tie the game at 6-6, Maiden stepped up and put the Bulldogs ahead for good with an inside-the-park home run. At the plate, Maiden, a freshman, went 2-for-5 and scored twice with a RBI. The Cabrillo High School graduate also earned the win with two shutout innings of relief. He allowed one hit and struck out three. 

Walker Armstrong went 5-for-5 at the plate with two runs. Ryan Peinado went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Quinntin Perez, Harmonay, Maiden and Chris Taitague added two hits apiece to help Hancock's 17-hit attack.

The Pirates built an early 5-0 lead with two in the first and three more in the second against Hancock starting pitcher Wyatt Standley. The Bulldogs got on the board with three runs in the third. Taitague, Chad Jones and Peinado delivered RBI-singles to pull Hancock to within 5-3. Ventura added another run in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead.

The Bulldogs answered back with a run in the sixth when Nash Ackerman grounded out allowing Armstrong to score from third to pull Hancock to within two at 6-4.

Hancock trailed by two to start the ninth inning when Peinado led off with a double. The next two Bulldogs were retired to bring up Harmonay, who delivered a clutch two-out, game-tying, two-run home run to even the score at 6-6. Maiden followed with a single to center and came all the way around to score on an error by Ventura's center fielder Elijah Alexander.

Phil Almanza threw 3 1/3 innings of solid relief. He scattered five hits, two walks and one run for the Bulldogs. Matt Hamon struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief for the Bulldogs.

Hancock will close the season next week with a game at Cuesta on Tuesday, April 25, followed by a home game with the Cougars on Thursday. Both games will start at 2:30 p.m.