Bulldogs Come From Behind to Stun Ventura 11-10 Behind Martinez's First Collegiate Hit

Diego Martinez's first career hit was a two-run double in the ninth inning to help the Allan Hancock College baseball team come from behind to stun Ventura College 11-10 on Tuesday afternoon in a Western State Conference game. The Bulldogs overcame a deficit after the eighth inning to win for the second time this season and for the first time since the second game of the season. The Bulldogs improved to 3-4 in conference play and 12-12 overall. Ventura dropped to 4-3 in conference and 11-12 on the season. The Bulldogs also won on the road for the second time this season and improved to 2-11 away from home.

Hancock trailed 10-9 entering the top of the ninth inning. Tanner Thompson hit a one-out single and Quinntin Perez extended the rally with a two-out single. Martinez pinch hit for Chad Jones and delivered a two-run double, his first collegiate hit and runs batted in.

Nic Cardinal entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and earned his first save. He struck out one and hit one batter in the scoreless ninth.

Perez led the Bulldogs with three hits, 2 RBI, four runs scored and clubbed a home run. Sophomore first baseman Cordell Bowie went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Daniel Curiel went 1-for-4 with 2 RBI. Hancock finished with 11 hits in the game.

The game was scoreless until Hancock erupted for five runs in the fifth inning. Jones drove in a run with a groundball misplayed by the Pirates. Jacob Tonascia drive in the second run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run to make it 2-0 Bulldogs. Bowie doubled in two more runs to make it 4-0, and Curiel hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Tonascia with the fifth run of the inning.

Ventura got a run back in the bottom half against Hancock starting pitcher Ismael Hernandez. The Bulldogs built a 7-1 lead in the sixth when Perez slugged a two-run home run, his second longball of the season.

The Pirates climbed closer with four runs in the sixth inning to make it 7-5. Ventura took its first lead of the game with five runs in the seventh to build a 10-7 lead.

The Bulldogs responded with two runs in the eighth as Bowie drew a walk with the bases loaded and Curiel hit a sacrifice fly to center, his second of the game, to make it a 10-9 ballgame.

Hernandez earned a no-decision for the Bulldogs. He allowed 10 runs, nine of them earned, and scattered 11 hits over 6 1/3 innings. The freshman walked one and struck out three. Phillip Martin threw one inning of shutout relief, while Jesse Gasca threw 2/3 of an inning.

The Bulldogs will host Ventura at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The game was moved from Thursday due to the rain. Prior to hosting Ventura, Hancock will play at Cuesta on Friday at 2:30 p.m.