Bulldogs Blank Ventura 4-0, Improve to 2-0 in Conference Action

Freshmen Elijah Ortiz and Diego Rodriguez combined to throw a 10-hit shutout during the Allan Hancock College baseball team's 4-0 conference win at Ventura College on Tuesday. The Bulldogs swept the home and away series from the Pirates to improve to 2-0 in Western State Conference play and 4-6 overall. Ventura dropped to 0-2 in conference and 1-8 for the season.

Ortiz, a left-handed pitcher from Fresno, started for the Bulldogs and threw 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He walked two and struck out three, while scattering five hits. He left with two outs in the sixth with two men on and two out. Rodriguez recorded the final out in the sixth and pitched the final three innings to preserve the win. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate allowed five hits and struck out two in 3 1/3 innings of work. He escaped an one-out, bases loaded jam in the eighth by recording a strikeout and inducing a ground ball to second base.

Santa Ynez High School graduate Colby Barrick, Hunter Christensen and Zach Lampreia led the Bulldogs offensively with two hits apiece. Christensen, a freshman left fielder, singled and scored the first run of the game in the sixth inning when he scored on a base hit from catcher Riley Joyce.

Hancock added to its lead with a two-run seventh inning. Lampreia singled in Pioneer Valley High School graduate Angel Guillen, who had walked. Barrick singled home Justin Daraban to give Hancock a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the ninth when Christensen singled home Barrick, who had singled two batter earlier.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, Feb. 19, when they open an away-home series with rival Cuesta College. First pitch at Cuesta is set for 2 p.m. Hancock hosts Cuesta on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m.