SBCC scored four runs in the last three innings on Tuesday and rallied to beat first-place Cuesta 6-5 in a WSC North baseball game in San Luis Obispo.
Daniel Howell went 2-4 and homered for the second straight game. He hit his fourth round-tripper in the fourth inning, a solo shot that cut the deficit to 2-1. Chito Elias also had two hits for the Vaqueros (11-10, 5-2), who won their third in a row for the first time this year.
SBCC moved within a half-game of Cuesta (13-7, 5-1) and handed the Cougars their first conference loss. Cuesta is ranked No. 5 in Southern California.
The Vaqueros overcame deficits of 3-1 and 5-3. They loaded the bases in the eighth and Joey Epperson scored on a fielder’s choice by Joey Gonzalez.
The visitors won it with two runs in the ninth. They loaded the bases on an error, a single by Elias and an intentional walk to Howell. Epperson forced in the tying run with a walk and Elias scored the winning run when Robert Vickers grounded to first and the catcher pulled his foot off the plate on the throw home.
SBCC had eight hits and stranded 11 while the Cougars had 12 hits and left 12 on base.
Colby Morse (1-0) got the win by allowing one unearned run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Anthony Perry pitched the ninth and gave up a two-out single before getting a groundout for his second straight save.
The Vaqueros will host Cuesta on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
SBCC 6, CUESTA 5
SBCC …….. 000 101 112 — 6 8 3
Cuesta …… 110 101 100 — 5 12 4
Caraccioli, Morse (6), Perry (9) and White; Tiedemann, Murillo (7), Levin (7), Slover (9), Aprato (9) and Lindmark. W–Morse 1-0. L–Levin 0-1. S–Perry 3.
2B–C: Lindmark, Camporeale. HR–SB: Howell (4), 4th inn., none on.
