No. 15 Hancock Baseball Comes From Behind for 9-8 Walk-Off Win Over Fresno During Spring Classic

Freshman Ismael Hernandez delivered a two-out, two-run walk-off hit to complete a thrilling comeback for the Allan Hancock College baseball team in the Bulldogs' 9-8 come-from-behind win over Fresno City College Wednesday during day two of Hancock's annual Spring Classic. After erasing deficits of 6-0 and 8-4 for their first walk-off win of the season, the Bulldogs, ranked No. 15 in the South Region, won their fourth straight game to improve to 15-12 overall. The Rams, ranked No. 11 in the North Region, saw their four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 17-10.

Fresno scored six runs on five hits and two passed balls in the top of the first inning against Hancock starting pitcher Dylan Maiden. The Bulldogs came to life offensively with four runs in the second when Shane Flaningam reached on an error by the Fresno shortstop allowing Hernandez to score to make it a 6-1 game. Marcus Nix, Jr. and Quinntin Perez delivered RBI-singles and Chad Jones drove in another run by reaching on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 6-4.

The Rams added a run in the sixth against Maiden and another in the seventh against reliever Phil Almanza to build an 8-4 lead.

Hancock got a run back in the seventh when Jones reached second on a fielder's choice and error by the shortstop allowing Nix, Jr. to score to pull to within 8-5.

Hancock saved the best for last in the bottom of the ninth. Brendan Gomez led off with a single to left and advanced to third on an error by the Fresno outfielder on the play. Flaningam reached on another error by the Fresno second baseman to score Gomez to make it an 8-6 game. The next two Bulldogs were retired, but Jones drew a two-out walk to extend the inning. Tanner Thompson pinch ran for Jones and moved to third on a RBI-single by Jake Shusterich that drove in pinch runner Zac Fernandez to pull the Bulldogs to within one run. Cordell Bowie drew a walk to load the bases for Hernandez, who delivered the walk-off hit for the Bulldogs driving in Thompson and Shusterich.

The Bulldogs finished with 12 hits as Hernandez went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Perez and Shusterich both went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Nix went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in.
Maiden earned a no-decision by allowing seven runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked six and struck out five. Almanza allowed one run and two hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief with one strikeout. Freshman Jesse Gasca earned his first collegiate win with two-shutout innings. He allowed one walk and struck out one.

Fresno finished with nine hits. Jake Popejoy drove in three runs for the Rams, while Chet Allison drove in two.

Also on Wednesday, No. 8 Cypress defeated No.12 College of the Canyons 11-3 at Cuesta

The Spring Classic closes Thursday with four games, including: No. 4 Cerritos at No.15 Hancock at 11:30 a.m., while at noon, No. 18 Cuesta hosts Merced, East L.A. faces No.12 Canyons at Elk's Field, and No. 11 Fresno battles No. 8 Cypress at Sinsheimer Stadium.