Vaqueros Fall 7-6 to Hancock, Ending Conference Title Streak

By Jimmy Friery

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Baseball team (22-15, 17-6) fell to Hancock (30-9, 19-4) in the penultimate game of the regular season on Thursday, 7-6, between the two best teams in the Western State Conference (WSC) North.

Both of them came in hot to Pershing Park. The Vaqueros were on a six-game winning streak, one game back of Hancock at the top of the conference standings. Hancock was on an eight-game winning streak, their last loss coming against the Vaqueros back on April 2.

With Wylan Nelson on the bump for Santa Barbara, it was still scoreless after two. Hancock broke the tie with two runs in the third via back-to-back two-out doubles.

Without any malicious intent, the middle innings were dominated by hit-by-pitches and walks. The Vaqueros loaded the bases with them in the fourth but failed to score. In the next half-inning, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch tacked on another for Hancock to make it 3-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Santa Barbara finally got on the board. With one out and the bases loaded, Bradley Cekada chopped a grounder up the middle. As Hancock tried to turn a double play, he beat out the throw—which was thrown away, allowing two runs to score.

After Nelson retired the side in the top of the sixth, back-to-back two-out walks in the bottom half brought the two-way player to the plate in a clutch moment. He ripped a run-scoring single to tie the game, and was immediately followed by Lucas Carlisle's base hit to take the lead—now 4-3 Vaqueros.

Unfortunately, though, as the bullpen took over, Hancock's first batter of the seventh homered to tie the game. Later, a bases-loaded walk gave the visitors the lead back. They added on two more in the eighth, too, to increase their lead to 7-4.

But Hancock immediately let the Vaqueros back into the game. In the bottom of the eighth, three errors—including two which would have ended the inning—allowed two runs to score. With runners on second and third, a strikeout quieted the threat with Hancock still leading, but at a slimmer 7-6.

Although the Vaqueros had a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, Hancock held their lead, winning the WSC North in the process. It ends a streak of three consecutive conference championships for Santa Barbara, who will settle for second place regardless of what happens tomorrow against Pierce.

Nelson had yet another quality start, pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs with four strikeouts, leaving in line for the win. Nelson and Carlisle were the two Vaquero hitters with two-hit days.

It was a proper grind-it-out performance from both teams. They combined for more walks and hit-by-pitches (20) than hits (18), with just 15 strikeouts.

Santa Barbara hosts third-place Pierce on Friday 2 p.m. at Pershing Park to end the regular season.