Rodrigo Carbonel / Roundup
Brahmas’ left-hander Ryan Santhon recorded eleven strikeouts in seven innings of work, but to no avail as Pierce lost at home in extra innings to the Bakersfield Renegades Saturday, 4-3.
The loss is the fourth in a row for the Brahmas, whose record now stands at 7-6. Bakersfield improved to 9-5 for the season.
Pierce came out strong with a great opening performance by Santhon who had five strikeouts in the first two innings.
The Brahma bats, however, did little to help their pitching ace as they only had four hits in eleven innings of play.
“We’re not hitting; we had two hits through nine innings, four hits total. “We’ve really been struggling offensively for about seven or eight games now,” said Head Coach John Bushart.
“Pitching did a good job today; it’s hard for the pitching to keep holding the opponent down.” The main reason for the Brahmas’ bat struggles on Saturday was the Renegades’ starting pitcher, Marcos Reyna, who allowed only two runs, two hits, and recorded five strikeouts in his seven innings of work.
This has been somewhat of a recurring theme over the last four games. The team has hit a wall. Hits, hits and more hits are should come with time. Hopefully, for the Brahmas’ the bats heat up alongside the weather.
“Most of the hitters at Pierce are mostly dead-pull hitters, so I just had to keep everything down and away, especially with Richard Stock, I know he is a real power hitter,” said Reyna. The game was tied until Renegades outfielder Mike Spingola delivered a two RBI single in the top of the 11th inning off of Pierce’s reliever, Dominic Archey.
The Brahmas had a chance to win in the bottom of the 11th inning when they loaded the bases with one out but could not come through. Second baseman Fernando Gallegos flied out to right field for the final out of the game. The only Pierce bat who did not struggle against Reyna was outfielder Giovanni Mazzola, who went 2-4 with an RBI and a walk.
“I was just timing it well; I was putting my foot down early, I was looking for that fastball and when I saw it, I just put a good swing on it,” said Mazzola. “We just didn’t hit today, that’s what it comes down to.”The Brahmas’ next baseball game will be on Tuesday March 8, at LA Valley College at 2 p.m.
Pierce College’s David Carver fills in as relief pitcher for two innings against Bakersfield College Mar. 5, 2011. Pierce College lose in the extra innings 4-3. (Joseph Kukuczka 2011)
David Pennington slides in safe against Pierce College’s Fernando Gallegos Mar. 5, 2011 at Joe Kelly Field. Pierce College went on to lose against Bakersfield College, 4-3. (Joseph Kukuczka 2011)