Thompson, Smith Lead Hancock to 8-0 Win in Home Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
West Hills Coalinga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
Allan Hancock | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 8 | 11 | 0 |
Nathan Thompson threw another gem and Kyle Smith drove in four runs as the Allan Hancock College baseball team blanked West Hills Coalinga 8-0 on Wednesday in the Bulldogs' home opener.
Thompson, a Santa Ynez High School graduate, struck out nine in six shutout innings. The left-handed sophomore scattered three hits and five walks to improve to 2-0 on the season. Freshman Matt Shackley fanned four in three shutout innings to earn the save in his Bulldogs' debut.
Hancock, which was ranked 15th in the regional preseason poll, improved to 3-1 and handed 3-1 West Hills its first loss of the season.
The Bulldogs broke open a scoreless game with a five-run third inning. West Hills starting pitcher Oscar Gonzalez walked the bases loaded when Smith cleared the bases with a two-out triple to plate Ryan Welker, Felipe Gonzalez and Cameron Ketchen. Brooks Fages followed with a single to drive in Smith to make it 4-0 Bulldogs. After Zach Nyman singled to move Fages to third, Lompoc High School graduate Evan Aguilar followed with a base hit to score Fages to cap the five-run frame.
Hancock added two runs in the seventh after Nyman scored on a wild pitch and Aguilar sprinted home later in the inning on a passed ball. Smith completed the Hancock scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ketchen in the eighth inning.
The Bulldogs racked up 11 hits. Welker, a sophomore catcher, went 2 for 2. Fages, Nyman and Aguilar each went 2 for 4.
Hancock continues its six-game home stand on Friday against Imperial Valley. First pitch is at 2 p.m., with Saturday's series finale set to begin at 1 p.m.