Rigo Ramirez went 3-4 and scored two runs Tuesday, leading L.A. Mission to a 6-3 baseball win over SBCC at Pershing Park.
The first four batters collected nine of the Eagles’ 14 hits and scored four times. Four pitchers held the Vaqueros to five hits and struck out 10.
SBCC (2-6) fell to 0-6 at home after going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
“We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities and didn’t swing the bats like we have in the last four or five games,” said coach Ryan Thompson.
The Eagles jumped ahead 4-1 after three innings. Joey Epperson drove in SBCC’s run with an RBI double in the first. Both of Mission’s runs in the third were unearned after third baseman Pat Cavalier threw it over the catcher’s head on a bunt, allowing two runners to score.
Cavalier had two hits. Epperson and White doubled for the second straight day.
Mission improved to 5-1 with the only loss coming to SBCC by a 5-4 count on Feb. 8 in Sylmar. Only two of their six runs were earned.
Daniel Nieves allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits in the first 3 2/3 innings and got the loss. Chris Joyce, a former Dos Pueblos High star, made his Vaquero debut in the seventh. The left-hander didn’t allow a run over the last three innings, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
SBCC loaded the bases in the second and seventh but got just one run when Shay Maltese scored on a passed ball with two outs in the seventh. As the dark clouds gathered in the ninth, Zach Pecyna and Epperson reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively, but the Vaqueros went down 1-2-3 with the last two batters striking out.
“It felt like a general malaise,” said Thompson. “We didn’t play with the passion I expect and that’s on me. I have to do a better job of getting them ready to play.”
Santa Barbara will host Irvine Valley on Friday at 1 p.m.
L.A. MISSION 6, SBCC 3
L.A. Mission …… 202 020 000 — 6 13 1
SBCC …………… 100 000 110 — 3 5 2
Muesborn, Bernardino (6), Garcia (7), Mott (8) and J. Almendarez; Nieves, Alvarez (4), Joyce (7) and White. W–Muesborn. L–Nieves 0-1.
2B–LAM: R. Almendarez 2, Rowley. SB: Epperson, White.
