1st-Inning Homer the Difference as Vaqueros Fall to Mt. San Antonio 4-2
By Jimmy Friery
SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Baseball team lost at home to Mt. San Antonio on Tuesday afternoon, 4-2. The Vaqueros now sit at .500 (4-4).
This game was the first time the Vaqueros were at home in over two weeks thanks to a couple of rainouts. SBCC has had a tough time plating runs over the past 3 games, scoring just 3 runs in that span.
Tuesday's game started off with a bang for Mt. San Antonio, as a walk and an error brought designated hitter Kaden Moeller to the plate. He promptly blasted a 3-run homer, and the Vaqueros would be forced to play from behind before even recording an out.
Freshman designated hitter Parker Hellekson led off the bottom of the 2nd by ripping a single to left field, contributing to his solid .375/.412/.438 slash line in 16 at bats to start the year. Then, Vince Gamberdella (.476 OBP) walked, and a sacrifice bunt and another walk gave the Vaqueros bases loaded with 1 out. Consecutive strikeouts ended the inning, but not before the Vaqueros snuck a run across via a wild pitch.
Jordan Rico took over for opener Halen Jaden Guerrero on the mound, pitching innings 2 through 6. Coming off a tough outing the prior game against Chaffey, Rico redeemed himself, scattering 3 hits and 3 walks and pitching 5 scoreless innings, keeping the Vaqueros in the game.
In the bottom of the 6th, an Ethan Rodriguez RBI single scored Sebastian Arguelles, bringing the Vaqueros closer. The score was now 3-2 Mt. San Antonio.
In the 7th, Shane McMahon inherited a runner in scoring position with 2 outs but stranded him, giving the Vaqueros a chance to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. A couple walks and a hit by pitch gifted SBCC bases loaded with 2 outs, but a strikeout would end the threat.
In the bottom of the 8th, a similar situation arose. After two quick outs, a single, walk, and single gave the Vaqueros bases loaded and 2 outs, once again. The right man was at the plate in Daniel Ghiorso, who leads the Vaqueros in just about every offensive category (.393/.553/.536, 4 XBH, 8 BB). Unfortunately, he would pop up on the sixth pitch of the at bat in a 2-2 count, ending the inning.
The next half inning, Mt. San Antonio would put together a 2-out rally of their own. A hit by pitch, walk, and single—all with 2 outs—would give them a critical insurance run, increasing the lead to 4-2. It was the first run the Vaqueros had allowed since before the first out of the 1st inning.
Down to their last out, Hellekson doubled—the Vaqueros only extra base hit on the day—to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th. But, SBCC could not take advantage. The 4-2 score became final, and the Vaqueros had dropped their third in a row.
Parker Hellekson had the aforementioned 2 hits, as did Ethan Rodriguez, who also walked to reach base 3 times. Vince Gamberdella also reached 3 times via 2 walks and a hit. Sebastian Arguelles reached thrice, as well, thanks to 2 walks and a hit by pitch.
Mt. San Antonio used 4 pitchers, throwing 3, 3, 0.2, and 2.1 innings to piece together the full 9, allowing just 2 runs as a staff. The formula was a variation of the old saying of pitching, defense (0 errors), and a (1st inning) 3-run homer.
The Vaqueros will look to bounce back with a win Thursday at Cerro Coso before being back at Pershing on Saturday against Cerro Coso at 1:00 PM.
