Brahmas extend winning streak with 3-4 win over Santa Barbara
The Brahmas kept their momentum, edging out Santa Barbara City College 4-3 in a suspenseful home game on April 25.
The team had already secured a spot in the 2025 Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs after defeating Oxnard College 6-1 the day before. Still, the Brahmas showed no signs of slowing down as they wrapped up their regular season play.
“It felt like there was a little bit of a playoff atmosphere and I love the way our guys responded”, Head Coach Bill Pickett said. “We made some great plays on defense. We had some really clutched bats. So it’s a good way to win a game at the end of the year to go into the playoffs”.
The game opened to a slow start in the first inning, with both teams struggling to get on the board.
However, the game quickly gained intensity in the second inning, with right fielder Jeremiah Jones scoring the first run of the game.
Santa Barbara responded by putting up two runs in the third and fourth innings to seize a 2-1 lead, adding tension on the field as the Brahmas found themselves trailing.
Third baseman Ethan Granillo expressed concern over Santa Barbara’s jump in the game but didn’t lose faith in his team’s ability.
“Baseball can go anywhere, anyone’s way, any day and today we came out on top”, Granillo said. “I thought there could be a comeback but our pitching and defense did a great job of holding them still.”
The Brahmas advanced late in the sixth inning. Jones delivered again, singling to right field and driving outfielder JJ Torrente home to tie the game at 2-2.
With a winning streak on their side, the team surged ahead in the eighth inning. Granillo came up smashing a double that sent outfielder Carlos Macias sprinting across home plate, giving the Brahmas a 3-2 lead.
Granillo later scored on a wild pitch, crossing the plate himself to push the lead to 4-2.
Santa Barbara threatened in the ninth inning, scoring a run to close the gap 4-3, but the Brahmas’ defense held firm to seal the victory.
