Late-inning offensive outburst boosts Cuesta over SBCC, 16-5

Cuesta College scored 13 runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined to break a 3-3 tie as the Cougars broke Santa Barbara City College's four-game winning streak 16-5 at Pershing Park.

The game was a make up from last week's contest that was cancelled due to the rain.

The Vaqueros got off to a good start and were able to hold a 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning.

Elijah Hodges got SBCC (13-10, 4-2 WSC North) on the board with a sacrifice fly in the third, scoring Zack Stockton. Hodges drove in another run in the fifth with a double to give SBCC a 3-0 lead.

SBCC starter Ian Churchill was dominant to start the game, as he retired the first 10 batters of the game before yeilding a single to Ruben Mercado in the fourth. Churchill then picked him off first before retiring the next batter. Churchill faced the minimum through five innings, but then ran into trouble quickly in the sixth. A single, walk, and double gave Cuesta (11-10, 2-4 WSC North) their first run of the game and then a two-run error with two outs allowed the Cougars to tie it at three. 

Then over the seventh and eighth innings, Cuesta's offense would catch fire and score 13 runs in that span. The Cougars sent 21 batters to the plate over the course of the seventh and eighth. The 13 runs scored over the seventh and eighth innings came on just six hits. 

SBCC tacked on solo runs in the seventh and eighth on an RBI single by Reinhard Lautz and Jake Holton's fourth home run of the year.

Ian Churchill got the start for the Vaqueros and picked up the loss. He pitched six innings and had six strikeouts while allowing four earned runs.

SBCC managed seven hits in the game with Nicholas Prainito going 2-4. Stockton didn't record an official plate appearance, but scored three of SBCC five runs. He walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

The Vaqueros next game is Tuesday at Moorpark College with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.