Baseball: Bulldogs Fall in Final Inning Against East LA

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College baseball team fell just shy on day one of the AHC Spring Tournament against East LA College on Tuesday afternoon and came up short in the 10-9 decision on John Osborne Field. | BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs (16-16) struck first and went up big after a seven-run scoring frenzy in the second frame. Vander Hodges started the rally with a two-run RBI after a shot up the middle, while Jacob Ortega followed suit by driving in one. Jacob Steels added to the momentum by plating one after registering a triple up the middle before Joey Freitas ended the streak by scoring two runs with his first homer of the season. The Huskies (16-17) scored once in the third, but the home squad answered with one run of their own in the fourth after an ELAC error. 

Both squads scored in the fifth as East LA plated two and Caelan Dalman drove in one with a double through the right side. Hancock entered the final inning with a comfortable 9-4 advantage after allowing one visiting run in the seventh, but lost the lead after a six-run string in favor of the Huskies in the top of the ninth. The Bulldogs managed to get a runner in scoring position with one out but were unable to bring him home for the tie. 

Kalub Ramirez led the Bulldogs at the plate with a 3-for-5 showing on the day while adding two runs. Parker Haskell and Hodges also finished with multiple hits, recording two apiece, while Steels snagged three stolen bases. 

Matthew Gonzales (3-2) was charged with the loss on the bump after 3.1 innings of late work. He struck out three but surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits after entering to pitch in the sixth. Nick Ahedo secured the start but did not factor into the final decision. Vance Serrano and Ricardo Rodriguez also appeared on the mound en route to non-decision performances. 

The Bulldogs are set to face off against Cypress College on Wednesday, April 13th, for day two of the tournament. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 PM on John Osborne Field.