No. 10 Bulldogs Close Campaign in Round One of Playoffs

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The No. 10-seeded Allan Hancock College baseball team saw the 2023 campaign come to a close after dropping a pair of Southern California Regional Tournament contests to No. 15 Southwestern College at John Osborne Field over the weekend. The Bulldogs close the season with an overall record of 27-15 while Southwestern, who will now host the Super Regional round after all three top-seeded teams faltered in the first round, move to 24-17 thus far. 

GAME ONE: SOUTHWESTERN 3, ALLAN HANCOCK 2 | BOX SCORE

Southwestern managed to secure a win in the regional opener after a wild 12-inning thriller. Hancock struck first when a sacrifice fly by Isaiah Hernandez scored a run in the opening frame before both teams were blanked through the next six innings. The Jaguars used a shot over the centerfield to knot the score in the seventh before an RBI triple plated one to give them the lead in the eighth. Niko Pecskovszky brought the game to a tie in the final frame of regulation with a double to left center that scored one. Both sides were scoreless across the next three innings until a single to right scored the game-winner in the 12th. 

Anthony Lopez suffered his first loss of the season on the mound after tossing the final five frames. He sat down three batters while allowing two earned runs and scattering four hits. Nick Brown earned the start and struck out seven batters through as many innings but did not factor into the final decision. 

GAME TWO: SOUTHWESTERN 6, ALLAN HANCOCK 4 | BOX SCORE 

The Jaguars, who were the designated home team in game two, opened play on Saturday with a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning and rode the lead to the end. The Bulldogs, who entered the fourth frame with a 5-0 deficit, threatened a comeback after an RBI single from Tommy Kendlinger and a two-run double by Jeremy Camarena cut the deficit before Southwestern managed to squeak one run across in the bottom of the inning. Kendlinger drove in the final run for both sides in the top of the eighth with a single through the right side.

Cooper Bagby was charged with the loss after surrendering eight earned runs through 1.1 innings of action. Christian Dijkman closed out the final 6.2 innings of play on the bump, striking out five batters and allowing one earned run en route to a non-decision performance.