Evans goes 5-5; Vaqueros slam West LA 19-5

Freshman center fielder Brandon Evans went 5-5 with a grand slam, two doubles and five RBIs on Thursday and SBCC erupted for a season-high 19 runs in a 19-5 nonconference baseball win over West Los Angeles.

Santa Barbara (22-12) had a short turnaround after dropping an 8-3 game on Wednesday night at Riverside, with a round trip of more than five hours. They hit the road again on Thursday morning for a 2:30 p.m. game in Culver City.

"This was a good bounceback after a long trip and a night game (on Wednesday), then having to drive back to West LA today," said coach Jeff Walker. "Scoring 19 runs is a great way to finish the week, heading into our last week of conference."

Evans, a left-handed center fielder, hit his second homer of the year, a grand slam in a five-run sixth that stretched the lead to 15-3.

James Brakka had a double and a two-run triple in the eighth for the Vaqueros, who tied their season high with 17 hits. Brakka, Spencer Erdman and James Hill drove in three runs apiece.

Noah Villegas (5-2) got the pitching win, allowing one earned run in 6 2/3 innings.

The Vaqueros will play their final two WSC games on Tuesday at L.A. Pierce and Thursday at home vs. Pierce. First pitch is 2:30 p.m. for both games.