The offense returned for SBCC on Wednesday in a 10-2 baseball win over L.A. Valley at Pershing Park.
Noah Villegas turned in a strong six innings in his first college pitching start and second baseman Brett Sesma went 2-2 with four RBIs and two stolen bases. Catcher Patrick O’Brien was 3-4 and scored three runs.
The Vaqueros (11-2) rapped out 13 hits to snap a two-game losing streak and stay perfect at home (7-0). Jack Bittan went 3-4 for the Monarchs (6-5).
It’s the fifth time the Vaqueros have reached double-digits in runs. They lead the state in scoring (8.3 per game) and on-base percentage (.445).
Villegas (2-0) tossed the first six innings, holding the Monarchs to two runs (one earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Cody Van Aken pitched two scoreless innings and Lucas Benenati made his first appearance in two years, giving up a single and striking out two in the ninth.
“Noah pitched with confidence and was attacking the zone,” said coach Jeff Walker. “The advantage was in Valley’s court because their guy was rested and we weren’t going to move our Thursday starter up a day.
“Noah picked us up big time. He kept zeroes on the board and gave us a chance to score first. And it was great to see Lucas, our first-team, all-conference reliever, back on the mound.”
SBCC took a 2-0 lead in the second on an error and an RBI groundout by Matt Henderson. The lead grew to 5-1 in the third when Sesma came up with the bases loaded and drilled a two-out, two-run single to right field that scored Connor McManigal and O’Brien.
“I was looking for a pitch that was up that I could drive up the middle,” said Sesma, a sophomore from Northridge who raised his batting average to .454 (5-11). “I was seeing the ball really well and felt comfortable and on time.”
The Vaqueros had scored just two runs in 18 innings prior to Wednesday’s nonconference game. The teams played through a light rain in the fourth through sixth innings.
“I feel like we were more relaxed today,” said Sesma. “The last two games, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to score a lot of runs. Today, we just came out and had fun.”
Spencer Erdman went 3-4 and reached base four times. He boosted his average to .444. Leadoff hitter Brandon Evans belted his first home run to right, a two-run shot that capped a three-run sixth inning and made it 9-2.
The Vaqueros will play their third game in three days today when El Camino comes to Pershing Park for a 2 p.m. contest.
