WALK-OFF: Bulldogs Top Santa Barbara After Camarena's Walk-Off RBI, Keep WSC Title Hopes Alive

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College baseball team bested Santa Barbara City College, 6-5, after a walk-off RBI with two outs by Jeremy Camarena in the bottom of the 9th frame. The win keeps Hancock's Western State Conference title dreams alive as they enter the final game of the regular season with a 16-7 mark against league foes, matching Cuesta's conference record. The Vaqueros, now 15-7, are also still in the hunt with two games left on the slate. | BOX SCORE

Santa Barbara jumped out early with a three-run effort in the opening frame, but the Bulldogs quickly bounced back with an RBI single by Gavin Long and a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning. Long came through with another RBI up the middle in the second to even the score before the Vaqueros used a sacrifice fly to plate one in the third. Tommy Kendlinger knotted the score in the fifth with a single through the left side that drove one in before bats quieted for both sides through the next two innings. The Vaqueros went ahead in the eighth after a sacrifice bunt scored an awaiting runner at third. 

The final frame provided plenty of drama and thrill as a solid play by Anthony Lopez and back-to-back catches in the outfield by the Bulldogs left two SBCC runners stranded. Long, the lead-off hitter in the 9th, got on base after a walk before advancing to second on a stolen base. He made his way home during the next at-bat after Keelor Loveridge doubled to left with a deep shot at the fence, bringing the game to a 5-5 tie. Loveridge was replaced on the base by pinch runner, Luke Kovach, while Julien Sepulveda reached first on an intentional walk between a pair of strikeouts. Camarena sent the game-winning shot out to centerfield, narrowly scoring Kovach from second. 

Lopez collected his fifth win of the season after tossing the final four innings of action. He struck out one batter and allowed one earned run while scattering three hits. Cooper Bagby and Lucas Earle also appeared on the bump but did not factor into the final decision.

The Bulldogs are set to wrap up the regular season this afternoon with a road trip to Ventura College. Cuesta will close the conference slate at Oxnard today while the Vaqueros are scheduled to host LA Pierce and Moorpark in a two-game homestand this afternoon and tomorrow.