SBCC couldn’t get any breaks at the plate on Thursday in a 4-2 WSC baseball loss to Hancock in Santa Maria.
The Vaqueros (19-17, 6-12), playing their first game in eight days, got another strong outing from Blake McFarland. The 6-6 right-hander gave up just one earned run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Santa Barbara tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth on a safety squeeze by Sean Costella that scored Danny Cavaletto. The visitors tied it again at 2 in the seventh. With runners at first and third, Zack Chavez took off for second and drew a wild throw from the catcher, allowing Costella to score.
Hancock (19-16, 12-6) took a 4-2 lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Cavaletto went 3-for-3 with a run scored while Costella was 2-4 with an RBI. SBCC fell to 0-9 when scoring two runs or less.
“We’ve been playing catch-up all year,” noted coach Teddy Warrecker. “With two on and two outs in the fifth, Corey Krupp hit a sinking line drive that was caught by the center fielder. In the eighth, we loaded the bases with two outs and Costella lined one off the pitcher’s glove that went to the second baseman, who threw to first to end the threat.
“We were a little unlucky today. We still have a shot at the playoffs but we need to win and get some help.”
SBCC plays host to first-place Cuesta on Saturday at 1 p.m.
SBCC ……………. 000 010 100 — 2 8 2
Hancock ………. 100 100 20x — 4 9 2
McFarland, Edgington (7), Whalen (8) and Keller, Gregory (8); Green, Calhoun (7), Lachuga (7) and Dotzler. W–Lachuga. L–McFarland (7-3).
2B–H: Conrad.
Records–SB 19-17, 6-12. H 19-16, 12-6.
