SANTA BARBARA – The SBCC baseball team ended the month of February with six straight wins before falling in its two games at El Camino this week, 8-2 on Tuesday and 4-2 on Thursday.
The Vaqueros now own a 10-5 record heading into the final game of their series with the Warriors (11-6) on Saturday at Pershing Park.
GAME ONE
On Tuesday, a late burst from the Warrior offense led the home side to an 8-2 win. SBCC was outhit 11-4 after being held scoreless through the first eight innings.
Santa Barbara went without a hit through six innings. Third baseman Gavin Haimovitz ended the drought with a single to left in the top of the seventh, but he would be the only Vaquero to get on base in the inning.
The Vaqueros still trailed just 2-0 heading into the top of the eighth, when they began to mount a late comeback. Leadoff batter Tyler Imbach reached on a Warrior error. Right fielder Caiden Matheny followed with a double to center field. Center fielder Max Porter followed with a big two-run single into left field, tying the game at 2-2.
However, El Camino answered with its most productive stretch of the day The Warriors scored six runs on five hits in the bottom half of the inning, including a three-run homer to put them up 8-2.
Three pitchers split time on the mound for the Vaqueros, as Charlie Adamson and Aiden Garza threw three strikeouts each.
GAME TWO
Two days later, SBCC would once again try to comeback late before falling short. This time, the Vaqueros finished with more hits, 7-6, but had a 2-0 disadvantage in the error department.
El Camino scored one run in the first and third innings, taking a 2-0 lead. The Vaqueros cut into the lead in the top of the fourth. Justin Deal opened with a walk, Andrew McKenna followed with a double, and Matty Fung hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to bring Deal home.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the eighth, SBCC once again pulled within one run as Deal rounded the bases again. Deal singled through the right side and made it to second on a wild pitch. After entering as a pinch hitter, Owen Crevelt hit a single into center field as Deal scored the Vaqueros' second run of the day.
The Warriors added another run in the bottom of the eighth, but the SBCC defense was able to get off the field with two runners on base. Needing two runs to extend the game, the Vaqueros earned one walk from Mark Hernandez but couldn't get a hit in the top of the ninth, ending the game.
NEXT UP
On Saturday, the Vaqueros will get another chance to take down the Warriors in a 1:00 p.m. meeting in Santa Barbara.
