Baseball Picks Up Three Wins at Annual Spring Classic

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College baseball team picked up three wins at the annual AHC Spring Classic, which featured a number of highly competitive teams from across the region facing off at three local venues from March 19th to 21st. 

Offensive production was booming for the Bulldogs (14-11), who struggled to find production in the early part of conference play, as the squad registered an impressive 35 runs through three games. Josue Garcia led the home squad with a .692 batting average throughout the three-game stretch after going 9-for-13 at the plate with eight RBIs, one triple, and one home run. Braden Oliver also provided a steady presence in the box after a 7-for-13 mark (.538). 

The Bulldogs are set to resume conference play this week with a three-game series against Oxnard College. The Bulldogs will host on Tuesday (Mar. 25) and Saturday (Mar. 29) with a road trip in between on Thursday (Mar. 27). 

DAY ONE: AHC 11, ELAC 2 | BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs opened action with an 11-2 victory over East LA College on Tuesday afternoon to kick things off. After a scoreless first three innings, Hancock exploded for six runs in the fourth, highlighted by a grand slam from catcher J. Garcia, who went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and a home run. The home squad added five more in the seventh to seal the deal. East LA's only offense came in the seventh, plating two runs off the bat of the designated hitter.

AHC's pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs over nine innings, while the Huskies cycled through six pitchers in the loss. Nathan Coffey picked up the win on the mound after six innings, which featured seven strikeouts and just three hits. Liam Taft entered in relief to earn the save over the final three frames. 

DAY TWO: AHC 1, MERCED 0 | BOX SCORE

Hancock emerged victorious in a tightly contested 1-0 shutout over Merced on Thursday. The Bulldogs broke the scoreless tie in the seventh inning when Owen Bolich drove in an awaiting J. Garcia with a sacrifice fly, which proved to be the game-winning run.

Jaiden Turner was lights-out for the home crew en route to the complete game shutout after registering nine strikeouts, allowing three hits, and walking two. 

DAY THREE: AHC 32, ECC 14 | BOX SCORE

In a wild offensive showdown, the Bulldogs overpowered El Camino in a 23-14 decision on the final day of tournament play. The Bulldogs, who trailed 12-3 midway through the fourth, scored in every inning but the eighth while putting up a staggering 10-run sixth inning to blow the game wide open.

Hancock racked up 19 hits and took advantage of 10 walks and 4 El Camino errors. Bolich led the charge with 5 RBIs, followed by three apiece from J. Garcia and Andrew Sandoval. 

The Warriors jumped out to an early 8-1 lead by the end of the second inning, but the offensive effort for AHC led to seven runs in the fourth while the home team never looked back. 

Hunter Beck picked up the win on the bump after four strikeouts and two earned runs through four innings.