Ignacio Elias had a big day in his first start in right field on Saturday but SBCC couldn’t hold a one-run lead in the ninth and Hancock rallied for a 7-6 WSC North baseball victory in Santa Maria.
Elias went 3-4 and belted his first home run of the year, a two-run shot in the fourth, to put the visitors ahead 3-2. It was the 50th homer of the year for the Vaqueros, breaking the 2007 school record which was set in 11 more games.
Tommy White went 2-4 and tied the game at 5 with a two-out, two-run homer in the seventh. Elias singled in the ninth and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double by Abe Ruiz.
“We thought Abe’s ball was going out but it hit the top of the fence in right field,” noted coach Teddy Warrecker.
Both of the Bulldogs’ runs were unearned in the bottom of the ninth after the Vaqueros (19-14, 9-8) dropped a pop foul and threw the ball away on a drag bunt. The latter play tied the game at 6 and after an intentional walk loaded the bases with one out, outfielder Danny Cavaletto was brought in as a fifth infielder.
Peter Straka hit a hard grounder to first and Conner Rehage made a diving stop but his throw to the plate was just late.
Hancock (21-11, 13-4) outhit the Vaqueros 14-11 and moved into a first-place tie with Oxnard in the WSC North.
“This was a tough loss,” said Warrecker. “We didn’t make the plays when we had to. We can still make the playoffs, we just have to finish third in conference. We play in the best conference in Southern California and the third-place team has gone to the playoffs the last five years.”
SBCC is in third place in the WSC North at 9-8, two games ahead of Cuesta and Ventura (7-10) with three to play.
The Vaqueros play host to Hancock on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
SBCC ……….. 000 300 201 — 6 11 4
Hancock …… 110 111 002 — 7 14 0
McGrew, Gunderson (5) and Keller; Berryman, Turbes (6), Valenzuela (8) and Young. W–Valenzuela 3-2. L–Gunderson 1-4.
2B–SB: Rehage, Ruiz. HR–SB: Elias (1), 4th inn., one on; White (6), 7th inn., one on.
Records–SBCC 19-14, 9-8. Hancock 21-11, 13-4.
