SBCC took a 6-1 lead into the eighth inning of Thursday’s nonconference baseball clash between the top two teams in the Western State Conference but gave up a grand slam and then lost 7-6 in 10 innings at Woodland Hills.
The Vaqueros, who lead the WSC North with a 13-5 mark, had their three-game win streak snapped and fell to 20-14. Pierce, the WSC South leader with a 20-14 overall record, got a grand slam from Richard Stock in the eighth and won it on Fernando Gallegos’ one-out, bases-loaded single in the 10th.
The Brahmas are ranked No. 8 in Southern California while the Vaqueros are 12th.
“This was one of the more deflating losses,” said SBCC coach Ryan Thompson. “We had a chance to close them out and we didn’t do it. We were terrible offensively, missing a sacrifice bunt and a hit-and-run play. At times, we didn’t run hard on the bases and that hurt us.“
The Vaqueros had 14 hits, one day after beating West L.A. 14-7 with a 19-hit attack. Joey Epperson had three hits for the second straight day and Cody Giordano contributed three hits and two RBIs, raising his team-high batting average to .348.
Colt McLaughlin had two hits and drove in two runs while Robert Vickers had two RBIs.
Left-hander Chris Joyce went the first seven innings, holding the Brahmas to one run. DJ Gunderson replaced Chad Caraccioli with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth. A run scored on a walk and Stock followed with the grand slam that tied it at 6-6.
The Vaqueros play their final two WSC North games next week. SBCC, which has clinched at least a tie for the conference crown, will travel to Oxnard on Tuesday and host the Condors on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
SBCC …..……… 211 002 000 0 — 6 14 2
L.A. Pierce …… 100 000 050 1 — 7 10 3
One out when winning run scored.
Joyce, Caraccioli (8), Gunderson (8), Perry (9) and White; Tolbert, Santhon (6), Wharton (9) and Laurita. W–Wharton 2-1. L–Perry 1-2.
2B–SB: Giordano, White, Smith. HR–LAP: Stock (6), 8th inn., three on.
