Shusterich and Odland Lead Hancock's 14-Hit Outburst in 9-4 Win Over East. LA. to Open Spring Classic

After being limited to one run in two out of its three previous games, the Allan Hancock College baseball team erupted for nine runs in a 9-4 win over East Los Angeles on Wednesday to open the Bulldogs' annual Spring Classic. The Bulldogs evened their record to 18-18 on the season, while East L.A. fell to 15-19-1.

Hancock opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Jeff Ray doubled and moved to third on Travis Welker's base hit. Welker stole second moments before Reed Odland walked to load the bases with nobody out. Jake Shusterich stepped up and ripped a two-run double. Mike McLean added a sacrifice fly to right two batters later, allowing Odland to tag up and score from third to give Hancock a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added another run in the second when Ryan Pearce doubled and scored on a double off the bat of Welker. The Santa Ynez High School graduate was thrown out at third trying to take an extra base to end the inning.

After the Huskies scored once in the third, Odland got the run back in the fifth with a solo home run, his team-leading fourth of the season. Later in the inning, Shusterich singled, stole second, and scored on a RBI-single from Trevor Garcia to cap a two-run inning and give Hancock a 6-1 lead.

The Bulldogs broke it open with three more in the seventh. Ismael Hernandez cracked a two-run double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Tristen Gutierrez to make it 9-1 Bulldogs.

The Huskies managed three runs, only one of them was earned, in the ninth inning against relief pitcher Daxton Miller.

Five Bulldogs recorded two or more hits to lead Hancock's 14-hit outburst. Shusterich went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Odland went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored. Welker, Hernandez, and Garcia also had two hits each. Hernandez drove in a pair of runs and had one of Hancock's six doubles.

Freshman Dylan Kelley, who threw a complete game last week in a 2-1 loss at Moorpark, earned the win. He scattered six hits and one run over five innings. He walked one and struck out one. Miller earned the save after allowing four hits, three runs, one of those earned, over four innings. The freshman right-hander struck out four and did not walk a hitter in his second-longest outing of the season.

East L.A.'s Francisco Avena went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Also on Wednesday, Cypress, ranked No. 4 in the South Region, fell to No. 9 Cuesta, 18-12 at Cuesta. Second baseman Thomas Green homered and drove in four runs for the Cougars.

The Bulldogs square off against Merced at 2 PM on Thursday. The Blue Devils edged Hancock 2-1 on Tuesday. East L.A. will look to bounce back against Fresno at noon at Elks Field.

The schedule for Thursday is as follows:

10:30 AM Cypress vs. Canyons @ Hancock
12 PM East L.A. vs. Fresno @ Elks Field
2 PM Cuesta vs. Cerritos @ Cuesta
2 PM Hancock vs. Merced @ Hancock

Home teams are listed first.