Henderson ignites offense in 6-1 home win

Matt Henderson went 3-3 with two runs and three stolen bases on Thursday as SBCC topped Moorpark 6-1 in a WSC North baseball game at Pershing Park.

Henderson, a sophomore shortstop from Chico, scored the Vaqueros' first run on a walk, a stolen base and a two-RBI double by James Hill. Dallas Bacon added a run-scoring single to right, giving the home team a 3-0 lead in the first.

"We're trying to get back to taking quality team at-bats," said Henderson, who also turned double plays in the fourth and fifth innings. "We're seeing a lot of pitches, getting good swings on the ball and it's coming together for us."

Henderson took over the Vaquero lead in batting at .370, the No. 2 mark in the WSC North. Hill is fourth at .368. Henderson singled to lead off the third, stole second and third and scored on Connor McManigal's two-out single up the middle to make it 4-1.

The Vaqueros, ranked No. 5 in Southern Cal, extended their win streak to four and improved to 16-5 overall and 9-4 in the WSC North. They trail Oxnard (10-3) by a game and moved a half-game ahead of Cuesta (8-4).

Dallas Bacon went 2-4 and the Vaqueros rapped out 11 hits to boost their home record to 11-1.

Sean Barry (4-2) went the first six innings and got the win, despite a little wildness. He allowed two runners to reach in the first and second innings but the Raiders (12-10, 5-8) were stymied by a nice double play from center fielder Brandon Evans, who gunned down Garrett Keuber at home to end the first.

Barry allowed just three hits and struck out eight to extend his leadI  in the WSC North. He's fanned 50 batters and the next closest pitcher has 31. He's given up just three earned runs in his last five starts, lowering his ERA to 1.37 (fourth in the conference).

SBCC leads the state in team ERA at 1.95.

Barry also had three walks, three wild pitches and hit three batters.

"We set the tone early with Evan's throw to the plate and then we scored first," said coach Jeff Walker. "It's always nice to play with a lead. Henderson did an outstanding job offensively and defensively.

"I think Sean would admit he didn't have his 'A stuff' but with the help of our defense, he kept them from scoring and got the ball to Steven Ledesma and Jake Keily to finish it."

Keily, a hard-throwing right-hander, came on in the ninth and gave up two singles before capping the win with back-to-back strikeouts. SBCC's three pitchers combined to strike out 13.

The Vaqueros hit the road to complete their four-game series with Moorpark on Saturday at 1 p.m.