Abe Ruiz and Conner Rehage combined for four of SBCC’s five home runs in Saturday’s home baseball debut as the Vaqueros overwhelmed Antelope Valley in a doubleheader sweep, 13-0 and 17-6.
Ruiz, a sophomore transfer from Arizona State, went 6-for-10 on the day with a two-run homer in each game. Rehage hit two round-trippers in the nightcap, which was shortened to eight innings by darkness. The first baseman belted a two-run shot in the first inning to put the Vaqueros up 4-3 and added a solo blast in the fourth. Ruiz and Rehage have three homers apiece in four games.
SBCC, ranked 17th in Southern California, evened its record at 2-2 in the opening games of a six-game homestand.
Dos Pueblos graduate Conner Rehage hit two homers on Saturday.
Joe McGrew tossed three-hit ball for seven innings in the opener with nine strikeouts and three walks. Ryan Gardner completed the shutout, allowing three hits and striking out three with no walks.
“This really shows how different we are from a year ago,” said coach Teddy Warrecker, whose team has nine homers in four games — more than the 2008 team hit the entire year. “Ruiz had some great at-bats and got some good swings after working the count.”
Daniel Howell hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning of the first game, stretching the lead to 8-0. Ruiz was 3-5 in each game while Rehage went 2-3 in the nightcap with two homers, three RBIs and three runs scored.
The Vaqueros had three homers and a five doubles in the second game and scored four runs in four different innings. Tommy White had a two-run double in the first inning and Danny Cavaletto delivered a two-run pinch-hit double in the seventh.
LINESCORES
Game 1
Antelope Valley …… 000 000 000 — 0 6 2
SBCC …………………. 201 122 05x — 13 13 1
Morgan, Marrujo (5), Wassner (7) and Finson; McGrew, Gardner (8) and Keller, Trevino (9). W–McGrew 1-0. L–Morgan 0-1.
2B–AV: Hodges. SB: Keller. HR–SB: Ruiz (2), 5th inn, one on; Howell (1), 6th inn., one on.
Game 2
(8 inn., darkness)
Antelope Valley …… 302 001 00 — 6 7 1
SBCC …………………. 414 400 4x — 17 13 1
Carillo, Devoer (3), Ortiz (6) and Cox; Edgington, Selarz (6), Alvarez (8) and Keller, Trevino (7). W–Edgington (1-1). L–Carillo (0-1).
2B–AV: Cota. SB: Keller, Chavez, White, Cavaletto, Ruiz. HR–AV: Hodges, 1st inn., none on; Reyes, 1st inn, one on. SB: Rehage (2), 1st inn., one on; Ruiz (3), 4th inn., one on; Rehage (3), 4th inn., none on.
