Brahmas Baseball Team Loses to Bakersfield College 1-2

Steve Akana / Roundup

The Pierce College baseball team had poor offensive showing at Joe Kelly Field Thursday as they lost Bakersfield College, 1-2. 

Good performances on the mound by Bakersfield College starting pitcher Art Charles and relief pitcher Anthony Ramirez kept the Brahmas at bay giving up only six hits.

“I just tried to go out there and throw strikes and help my team out,” said Ramirez. “My stuff wasn’t great, but I managed to get through it.”

In the top of the third inning, Bakersfield scored the first run of the game with Pierce starting pitcher Ryan Santhon, who walked a man and gave up two hits.

The Brahmas quickly answered Bakersfield in the bottom of the third inning, when Pierce center fielder Zachary Wagner hit a single advancing Pierce shortstop Christian Omelas to third base. Charles would throw a wild pitch that allowed Omelas to score, thus tieing the game at 1-1.

Bakersfield scored what would end up being the winning run of the game in the fifth inning, capitalizing on a Pierce fielding error and a wild pitch thrown by Santhon.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, there was a questionable call by the umpire that resulted in the second out. It stirred up the Brahmas dugout and led to Pierce College Assistant Coach Mike Jordt getting ejected from the game.

“We thought they missed the call,” said Pierce Head Coach John Bushart. “It’s part of the game and it didn’t effect the outcome.”

The Brahmas had several opportunities during the game with runners in scoring position, but were unable to score any runs.

“Offensively we kind of struggled executing and didn’t think we came with the right approach,” said Bushart. “In a tight ball game 2-1, you’re going to end up on the short end of it if you cannot execute.”

Despite giving up two runs, Santhon pitched superbly for eight innings throwing 11 strikeouts and allowed only four hits.

“He (Santhon) has been great,” said BushartYou give him the ball and he is going to give seven or eight innings. Right now he is throwing the best on our staff.”

Bakersfield Head Coach Tim Painton thought it was a well pitched game.

“I thought Pierce’s left hander (Santhon) threw extremely well and thought our starter Charles threw well,” said Painton.“It was a really close game and we were able to scratch out one more run for the win.”

Overall neither team was able to execute offensively very well.

“We (Bakersfield) didn’t do a good job executing on what we were supposed to do, but our shooters stuck out the whole game and helped us get the win,” said Ramirez.

“We had runners in scoring position a couple of times and didn’t get the runs in,” said Bushart. “In a close ball game it’s going to bite you.”

The Pierce College baseball team now has an overall record of 11-4 and a Western State Conference record of 1-2.

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David Whetstone ss-sb of the Brahmas hits a long ball in a play at Joe Kelly field yesterday Thurs. Mar. 11, 2010 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. The Brahmas lost 2-1. Photo by Victor Stephen Kamont (Victor Stephen Kamont)

Matt Plodenic of the Brahmas slides back into first base in a pickoff play when he was trying to steal second at Joe Kelly field yesterday Thurs. Mar. 11, 2010 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. The Brahmas lost 2-1. Photo by Victor Stephen Kamont (Victor Stephen Kamont)