The SBCC offense did just enough not to waste a sparkling performance from starter Zach Edgington on Thursday.
And what a waste it would have been.
After striking out 13 in his previous start, the sophomore fanned 11 Cuesta batters in the Vaqueros’ 3-2 win over the rival Cougars at Pershing Park. He struck out the side twice, and at one point had retired 13 consecutive batters.
“I’ve finally got my curveball and change-up feeling really good. I was taking it one batter at a time and trying to get ahead in the count,” he said, claiming that he wasn’t particularly nervous about falling behind 2-0 after three innings.
The Cougars got both of their runs off of RBI doubles in the second and third frames.
“We’re gonna score. This team can win all types of ballgames,” Edgington added.
The hosts finally got on the scoreboard thanks to an error by Cuesta ace Jon Moscot in the fifth inning. With two outs, Moscot attempted to pick off Abe Ruiz at second base only to throw it right off of Ruiz’s helmet. As the ball trickled into the outfield, Danny Cavaletto came home to score.
Tommy White connects on the game-winning single in the seventh inning. (photos by Vince Agapito)
The Vaqueros, who lead the state in homers, tied it up in the sixth on a monster solo home run from Daniel Howell that cleared the centerfield fence with room to spare.. Coach Teddy Warrecker said he’s seen bigger bombs from the 6-5, 225-pound slugger.
“Honestly, I think he got it off the handle. When he hits one in the right spot, it’s a spectacle,” said Warrecker.
Despite the game being tied, Moscot would stay in for the duration and finish with 10 strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on eight hits.
“Moscot is a playoff-type pitcher,” said Warrecker. “We got down 2-0 and then did just enough to win the ball game. If we’re fortunate enough to make the playoffs, that’s the type of No. 1 we’re gonna see.”
The winning run came off of a one-out, RBI single in the seventh off the bat of Tommy White that drove in Chris Lauritzen from second. Lauritzen, SBCC’s third baseman, went 3-for-3 on the day. White, who leads the team with a .447 average, had a pair of base knocks in the game.
Edgington opened the top of the eighth by walking two straight, and was pulled after Cuesta’s Matt Anderson sacrificed both runners into scoring position. In came submarine-righty D.J. Gunderson, who got out of the jam with a groundout and a strikeout.
Cuesta got the tying run over to second base with one out in the top of the ninth, but Gunderson nabbed a strikeout and pop-up to right field to end the game.
While the Western State Conference season has just now reached its halfway point, the game has some significance for the Vaqueros, who have won 10 of their last 11.
The Cougars (13-13, 4-6) have made the postseason 15 straight years and have won 13 of the last 15 conference titles.
“They’re gonna have a hand in the championship every year. I think this lifts us up and puts them in a hole,” said Warrecker.
The Vaqueros (17-9, 7-3) host Oxnard on Saturday at 1 p.m. with first place on the line.
D.J. Gunderson picked up his third save of the year for the Vaqueros.
SBCC 3, CUESTA 2
Cuesta ………. 011 000 000 — 2 5 1
SBCC ………… 000 011 10x — 3 8 0
Moscot and Prophet; Edgington, Gunderson (8) and Keller. W — Edgington 5-2. L — Moscot 6-2. S — Gunderson 3.
2B — C: Prophet, Cunningham, Miller. HR — SB: Howell (8), 6th inn., none on.
Records — CC 13-13, 4-6. SBCC 17-9, 7-3.
