Cuesta tallied five runs in the first inning and left-hander Matt Kretchmer tossed four-hit ball over seven innings, leading the first-place Cougars to a 10-2 baseball victory over SBCC.
The Vaqueros (12-12, 1-8) managed just four singles in the WSC North game at Pershing Park. It was the seventh straight loss and 11th in 13 games for Santa Barbara, which only has six runs in its last four games.
“It’s so much of the same thing … we only had four hits today and two of those were infield hits,” said coach Teddy Warrecker. “I’m at my ultimate frustration right now. We’re not making hard outs and that’s the part that’s making it so difficult for us right now.
“We can’t hit or score runs right now. It’s like we’ve almost forgotten how to.”
After the first batter flew out to open the game, the next 13 Cuesta hitters reached base. Jordan Kochevar had a three-run homer in the first and added a solo shot in the ninth. The Cougars (14-10, 7-2) collected three homers and three doubles.
SBCC got its first run in the third when Kai Beam reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on Corey Krupp’s single, took third on a throwing error and scored on Zack Chavez’s fielder’s choice. Jacob Trimble drove in the other run with a pinch-hit single in the seventh.
Starting pitcher Blake McFarland didn’t get out of the first inning, allowing five runs on six hits with one walk. Chad Pellici, the third Vaquero pitcher, limited Cuesta to two runs on seven hits and struck out three in four innings.
“Chad pitched well and Kai Beam played well at shortstop,” said Warrecker. “Starting pitching has been a glaring weakness for us. Outside of Blake’s previous league starts, I don’t think we’ve had a starter get out of the fifth inning. That makes things difficult.
“We pitched pretty well out of the bullpen which I expected we would do but the offensive stuff has to get better.”
SBCC travels to San Luis Obispo on Thursday to take on Cuesta.
CUESTA 10, SBCC 2
Cuesta ……….. 510 201 001 — 10 15 4
SBCC …………. 001 000 100 — 2 4 1
Kretchmer, Moe (8), Estrada (9) and Reyes, Reed (9); McFarland, McGrew (1), Pellici (5), Martony (9) and Howard. W–Kretchmer. L–McFarland (3-2).
2B–C: Muller, Miller, Poma. HR–C: Kochevar, 1st inn., two on; Domingos, 4th inn., one on; Kochevar, 9th inn., none on.
Records–C 14-10, 7-2; SB 12-13, 1-8.
