Daniel Howell had a perfect day at the plate and Chad Caraccioli pitched seven strong innings Monday afternoon as SBCC cruised past Antelope Valley 8-1 in a nonconference baseball game in Lancaster.
Howell, a 6-4 sophomore from Shell Beach, went 4-for-4 with three doubles, three RBIs, two stolen bases and a walk. Joey Epperson was 3-5 with a double, three runs scored and a stolen base.
“We were hitting the ball right on the button,” said coach Ryan Thompson. “We had a couple of long drives caught near the 400-foot sign.”
SBCC (2-5) is 2-0 on the road and 0-5 at home this season.
Caraccioli (2-0) held the Marauders (2-5) to one run over seven innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. DJ Gunderson and Dylan Prokop each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
The Vaqueros took a 4-1 lead into the ninth and loaded the bases with two outs. Epperson’s fly ball to left field was dropped, bringing in two unearned runs. After Robert Vickers walked, Howell drilled a two-run double to the fence in left-center.
The Vaqueros have two home games this week against L.A. Mission (Tuesday) and Irvine Valley (Friday). Tuesday’s game starts at 2 p.m. with Friday’s first pitch set for 1 p.m.
SBCC ……………….. 001 002 014 — 8 12 1
Antelope Valley …… 000 001 000 — 1 10 1
Caraccioli, Gunderson (8), Prokop (9) and White, Trevino (9); Myas, Underwood (6), Smith (9) and Brummer. W–Caraccioli 2-0. L–Myas.
2B–SB: White, Howell 3, Epperson. AV: Alvarado. 3B–SB: Giordano. AV: Gutierrez, Ninemeth.
