Bryan Melara / Roundup
The Pierce College baseball team (10-2) was unable to generate any kind of scoring despite their very potent offense this far in the season as they were shut out by Cuesta College (7-5) yesterday 4-0.
“It’s cliche, but good pitching is always going to beat good hitting,” said Pierce coach John Bushart. “Those guys can pitch.”
Pitching in fact was the key to victory as fans witnessed a pitching duel through eight innings of play.
Pierce’s freshman starting pitcher Ryan Santhon made his only mistake of the game in the bottom of the second giving up a solo homer to Cuesta’s Michael Camporeale which was enough to give Santhon his first loss of the young season.
Santhon was nearly flawless throughout the rest of the game however giving up only one hit.
“He [Santhon] has been outstanding, he’s been pitching as well as a true freshman can pitch, he’s been just phenomenal,” said Bushart.
Santhon had one earned run, two hits allowed, one walk, and seven strikeouts in seven innings in a losing effort.
Cuesta tacked on three more runs in the top of the ninth on some big hits off Pierce sophomore reliever Chris Corsini.
According to Cuesta coach Bob Miller Cougars’ pitchers were able to keep the ball down and as a result were able to cling onto the lead and shut down Pierce’s monster lineup.
“Great job to combine for the shutout,” said Miller. “I can’t remember the last time we did that.”
The Brahmas did have their fair share of opportunities to score but failed to capitalize as base-running errors ended their rallies in the third and seventh inning.
“We went 10-2 in non league, but now we start 0-0,” said Bushart. “Faze one is over and now we start faze two.”
Faze two will start on Saturday as the Brahmas will begin league play at home against Citrus College at 1p.m.