Fienga, Bulldogs Win Conference Opener Against Ventura 5-1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ventura | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
|
Allan Hancock | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Ventura
Behind five shutout innings from Henry Fienga and a three-run fourth inning, the Allan Hancock College baseball team won its conference opener over Ventura 5-1 on Saturday. The Bulldogs improved to 3-6 overall, while Ventura fell to 0-1 in league and 1-7 overall.
Fienga, a sophomore left-hander, scattered three hits and two walks over five innings. He evened his record at 1-1. The Cabrillo High School graduate struck out four Pirates. Sophomore lefty Lucas Martin allowed two hits and one walk over 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief. The Lompoc High School graduate struck out three. John Thomas threw 2/3 of an inning of relief. Matt Shackley allowed one run and two hits in the ninth, but recorded the final three outs to secure the victory.
The Bulldogs play at Ventura on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m., before traveling to Cuesta for a conference game on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m.
The Bulldogs scored the first run of the game in the third inning after Angel Guillen walked to lead off the frame and moved to second on a bunt from Justin Draban. He moved to third on a ground ball to first base off the bat of Zach Lampreia and scored after Colby Barrick walked and forced an errant throw from the Ventura catcher.
Hancock extended its lead in the fourth when Hunter Christensen led off with a single and moved to third on a single from William Bierlein. EJ Morris laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to drive in Christensen and advance Bierlein to second. Guillen followed with a two-run single to score Bierlein and extend Hancock's lead to 3-0. Daraban followed with a triple to plate Guillen and cap a three-run inning.
The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Barrick, Colton Studebaker and Christensen hit consecutive singles. Riley Joyce delivered a one-out single to drive in Barrick to give Hancock a 5-0 lead.
The Pirates scored a run in the ninth.
Hancock collected eight hits to Ventura's seven. Christensen had two hits in four at-bats for Hancock. Guillen, Daraban, Bierlein, Joyce, Studebaker and Barrick had one hit apiece.