Katherine Acuna
A close Saturday game for the baseball team ended in a loss with a final score of 3-2.
The Brahmas played against Bakersfield college at Pierce's Kelly Field. The game started off well with Brahmas scoring the first point during the bottom half of the second inning.
Ryan Gaspora made it to third base off pitcher Nick Rodarte's successful hit , and Matt Faigh's following hit gave Gaspora the chance to reach home base.
In the third inning, Bakersfield's A.J Day scored his team's first point with two outs already by Rodarte's pitching.
"I felt Nick Rodarte's performance was outstanding today, both on the mound and at home plate," said Pierce head coach Joe Arnold.
Then Bakersfield scored another point with Mike Pelle at the bottom half of the fourth inning.
During the bottom half of the fifth inning, Rodarte's pitching struck out two players. The other out was when Bakersfield's Joe Ramirez got tagged trying to steal second base.
The Brahmas scored their second point at the bottom of the sixth inning, with David Whetstone ending with a tie score of 2-2.
There was a change of pitchers at the eighth inning for Jacob Miranda. Bakersfield scored another point now making the score 3-2.
At this point, the Brahmas seemed to lose momentum.
"I think this team just lacks discipline and that lack of discipline shows up in close games," Arnold said.
Bakersfield struck out at the top of the ninth inning, creating excitement for the Brahmas in the bottom half.
There was one strike already when Rodarte's hit got him to first base. Then Sean Spear replaced him on first.
Spear was intent on stealing bases. He successfully stole second base, and thenthird during J.C. Barker's hit. Spear, ready to take home, ended with the final out.
"For the most part I think we played okay, but we got to hit better though," Spear said.
According to Arnold, "If we start improving on our discipline we'll probably start winning close games instead of losing."
"Well I felt that I had a pretty good game, but you know you have to come out as a team and have a good game," Rodarte said. "So really my success in the game really didn't mean anything. It really takes a team effort to beat a team like Bakersfield. They're really a solid team."