The Pierce College baseball team played its first game of the season against College of the Canyons, leaving 11 players on base and losing on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
In 34 at bats, Pierce got eight hits and three runs batted in. Four of those hits were by sophomore first baseman Christian Mercado who also got two RBI.
Despite Mercado’s 4 for 4 game, the Bulls were out-hit and out-pitched, losing 8-3.
Bulls left-handed starting pitcher Matt McKeever faced 17 hitters in 2.2 innings and gave up six earned runs in six hits, losing his first start and letting Canyons take the lead early in the game.
In a pitching change, sophomore right-handed pitcher Pablo Gonzalez took over for McKeever in the bottom of the third after Mckeever gave up five earned runs.
The Bulls went on to play three more of their pitchers, Derek Galvin, Matthew Lemus and Pierson Ro.
Pierce trailed 8-1 until the top of the ninth where Mercado hit into center field with the bases loaded.
This was the first season game the Bulls played under new head coach Bill Picketts.
Still on the road, the Bulls will face Citrus College today at 2 p.m.
