No. 5 Bulldogs Split with Bakersfield

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The No. 5-ranked Allan Hancock College baseball program split a doubleheader against Bakersfield at home on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs now boast an overall record of 16-4 on the season (11-1 WSC) while Bakersfield moves to 14-7 (11-5 WSC). 

GAME 1: HANCOCK 1, BAKERSFIELD 7

Bakersfield struck first with one run in the opening frame, but a single from RJ Clayton and a Renegades error evened the score in the bottom of the second. Neither team scored through the next three innings as pitchers dueled on the mound, but the bats got hot for Bakersfield late in the game as they put up six unanswered runs through the sixth and seventh frame. 

Anthony Lopez was tagged with the loss on the bump for the Bulldogs after 5.1 innings of work. He struck out six batters but surrendered five earned runs on five hits. Anthony Garcia tossed the final 1.2 innings, punching out three batters while scattering three hits and allowing two earned runs. 

GAME 2: HANCOCK 7, BAKERSFIELD 2

The Renegades got on the board first again in the nightcap with a two-run showing in the second frame. Nimble baserunning from Jacob Steels, who scored in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch, swayed the momentum in Hancock's favor and sparked a seven-run streak. The Bulldogs piled on five runs in the sixth frame, led by a deep shot from Trevor Garcia that plated two. After chasing the Renegades' pitcher off the mound, RJ Clayton stepped up to face the new Bakersfield arm. Clayton went the distance with a three-run shot over the right-center fence, marking his first home run of the season. Hancock closed out the scoring rally in the next inning after Bakersfield walked a batter with the bases loaded. 

Vance Serrano secured the victory on the rubber after tossing seven innings. He recorded one strikeout, one walk, surrendered two earned runs, and scattered eight hits. Vander Hodges entered as the closer, sitting down one batter without allowing a single hit through the final two frames.  

UP NEXT:

The Bulldogs will hit the road for their final trek of the season with a doubleheader at Moorpark on Thursday, May 27th. The first game is set to begin at 12 PM, with the nightcap to follow at approximately 3 PM, in Moorpark, Calif.