Bulldogs Edge Ventura 2-1, Sweep Season Series from Pirates

(Ventura, CA) A sacrifice fly from freshman first baseman Tim Mahoney drove in the game-winning run to back a solid effort from starting pitcher Henry Fienga and two relievers in the Allan Hancock College baseball team's 2-1 conference victory at Ventura on Saturday. The Bulldogs won all four Western State Conference meetings with Ventura this season and improved to 5-9 in conference and 8-15 overall. The Pirates dropped to 2-12 in league and 5-18 for the season. 

Fienga, a sophomore left hander, allowed six hits, one run and one walk over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. The Cabrillo High School graduate struck out six and improved to 3-4. He left the game with two on and two outs in the sixth. Elijah Ortiz escaped the jam by coaxing a groundball to end the inning. Sophomore Lucas Martin threw three shutout innings to earn the save. The Lompoc High School graduate allowed just one hit and struck out three to seal the victory. 

Hancock outhit the Pirates nine to seven.  Shortstop Ellis Gerussi-Turner and designated hitter Justin Daraban had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs. 

Ventura scored a run in the second against Fienga and carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning. Daraban reached second on an error by the Ventura third baseman to lead off the fifth. He moved to third on a fly ball to right from Carver Tippett. Angel Guillen delivered a clutch two-out single to drive in Daraban and tie the game 1-1. In the sixth, Colton Studebaker singled and moved to third on a double by Gerussi-Turner. Mahoney, a St. Joseph High School graduate, hit a liner to center that was caught. Gerussi-Turner was doubled off at second, but Daraban was able to tag up and score the go-ahead run from third. 

The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, March 24, for a 2:30 p.m. game at Cuesta. They will host the Cougars on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Santa Maria.