Moorpark deals another blow to Vaqueros’ title hopes, 7-2

John Cashman threw a complete game on Saturday and James Terrazas went 3-4 with three RBIs as Moorpark beat SBCC 7-2 in a crucial WSC North baseball game at Moorpark.

The Raiders (23-15, 11-7) downed the Vaqueros (18-19, 9-8) for the second time in three days. First-place Moorpark has a one-game lead over Hancock (10-8) and 1.5 over the Vaqueros. The Raiders took the season series from SBCC, 3-1.

Cashman allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Moorpark took a 2-0 lead in the second when Paul Abate scored on a wild pitch and Pat Valdez had an RBI single. The Vaqueros cut it to 2-1 in the sixth on John Jensen's RBI double that plated Ryan Guardino, who reached on an infield error.

The Raiders broke it open by scoring five times with two outs in the seventh. Dominic Ruggiero walked with the bases loaded and Abate was hit-by-a-pitch, forcing in Jason Hyman. Steven Elliott replaced Joe Kinsky on the mound and Terrazas greeted him with a three-run double to make it 7-1.

William Blackburn pitched the first 6.2 innings for the Vaqueros, giving up four runs on nine hits.

Santa Barbara will play three games in four days in the final week of the regular season. The Vaqueros will travel to Oxnard on Monday for a makeup game at 2:30 p.m., then play at Ventura (9-9) on Tuesday before hosting Ventura in the last home game on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

Moorpark will play a home-and-home series in its last two games against last-place Oxnard.