In another 10th-inning walk-off, the Pierce College baseball team defeated Ventura College at home on Saturday, April 11.
Sophomore outfielder Angel Cruz was the hero of the game. He singled with the bases loaded and brought in freshman shortstop Ricky Sheehan to win the game 9-8.
“It felt good being the one to hit the game-winning hit,” Cruz said.
Despite getting the win, Pierce’s pitching struggled to hold the lead. Sophomore starting pitcher Austin Peters went 3.1 innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Tanner Kruse relieved Peters and went 4.1 innings. He gave up two earned runs on four hits. Freshman Bret Weisberg got his second win and closed out the game for the Bulls.
The Bulls scored in the first and third innings but let the lead slip in the fourth. In the top of the fourth, the Pirates scored four runs on two hits and one error.
“I got a little frustrated at times with our defense,” said Pierce head coach Bill Picketts. “At the end it was elation.”
Pierce regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The team scored three runs, one of which came on a double by freshman infielder Chuck Steele.
Pierce assistant coach Eric Bloom knew the pitching performance wasn’t the team’s best, but that it did a good job of staying in the game.
“I thought we did a good job at being aggressive,” Bloom said. “Our starting pitcher didn’t have the best day. We did a good job answering runs.”
The Bulls are 10-10 in conference and 14-18 overall. In its next game, Pierce will face Santa Barbara City College at home on Tuesday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m.