The Brahmas’ baseball team could never figure out Citrus College’s starting pitcher Mikey Ramirez who pitched a complete game against them.
Ramirez (7-1) allowed eight hits, three runs, and gave out only three walks over his nine innings in the victory of the Owls over the Brahmas 4-3. He has a total of 60 strikeouts this season.
“At first, his [Ramirez] pitches weren’t overpowering, but after we scored our runs he settled down and was using all his pitches effectively,” said Pierce’s freshman Cody Despain.
Even though Pierce dominated early, scoring in the top of the second inning with a solo homerun from infielder Kevin Torres, the Owls turned the game around to their favor.
“They [Citrus] took the lead late in the game so there wasn’t too much time for us to come back,” said Despain. “We were just struggling to get base runners.”
Brahmas’ pitchers Brian Nostaja and David Carver maintained Pierce in the game until the bottom of the seventh when designated hitter Alex Mancillas hit a two-RBI double to center field to give Citrus a one-run lead.
“Our pitchers definitely did enough for us to win, but we just didn’t give them any run support,” said Despain.
Infielder Brandon Rapoport, made the score 3-0 on the top of the third inning when he singled to third base bringing two runners Kevin Torres and Greg Koll home.
The Owls took bases on errors by Pierce allowing them to score two runs on the bottom of the third inning and later two more on the bottom of the seventh when Nostaja was replaced by Carver.
Citrus’ first baseman Ricky Mount was intentionally walked twice during crucial innings, the decision didn’t benefit the Brahmas in the end.
Mount singled to center field on the bottom of the third inning scoring second baseman Shane Fraijo.
With their season coming to an end, the Brahmas (5-14) will host Bakersfield College (11-8) Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
http://info.piercecollege.edu/departments/athletics/baseball.html
