Rally Falls Short, Hancock's Season Ends with 8-6 Loss to Orange Coast

The Bulldogs fought until the final pitch and brought the go-ahead run at the plate, but the Allan Hancock College baseball team saw its season come to an end with an 8-6 loss to Orange Coast on Saturday. The Bulldogs were eliminated from the Super Regionals by the No.1 seed two games to zero.

Hancock finished the season 24-16-1, marking its highest season-win total since 2010. Orange Coast advanced to Sections with a 31-9 mark.

Hancock was out-hit 14-7 in the loss. Ryan Welker and Kyle Smith had two hits apiece in their final games with the Bulldogs. Welker, a sophomore catcher from Santa Ynez High School, also drove in two runs. Felipe Gonzalez drove in two runs, while Smith, a Pioneer Valley High School alumnus, scored twice.

Lompoc High School graduate Ryan Bower took the loss for Hancock to finish the season 7-5. He allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings. He walked three and struck out six. Zack Skipper allowed one run and three hits in an inning of relief, while Henry Fienga was charged with two runs after he allowed three hits in an inning. John Drury, a St. Joseph High School graduate, fanned one in one shutout inning of relief.

Orange Coast scored once in the first, but Hancock tied it in the third when Welker drove in Smith with a single to center field. The game remained tied until the Pirates scored four in the fifth against Bower. The extended their lead with two in the seventh and another pair in the eighth to build an 8-1 lead. 

The Bulldogs launched their comeback in the eighth when Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to center field, Ryan Bendele singled in another run and Welker scored when Cameron Ketchen reached on an error by the shortstop.

Hancock trailed 8-4 in the ninth when the Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out. Welker drew a walk to force in a run as Evan Aguilar scored to make it 8-5. Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly to center to add another run and make it 8-6. With two on and two out, Bendele hit a liner caught by the third baseman to end the rally and the season.

Fifteen players, including Bower, Welker, Gonzalez, Skipper, Drury, Nathan Thompson and Smith, played their final games with the Bulldogs.