No. 20 Hancock Baseball Comes from Behind to Upset No. 2 Cypress

Colton Studebaker delivered a two-run game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Allan Hancock College baseball team to an 8-6 come-from-behind win over Cypress College to close out the annual Spring Baseball Classic on Thursday. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 20 in the South Region, improved to 13-10. No. 2 Cypress dropped to 17-5.

Cypress opened the scoring with a run in the second against Hancock starting pitcher Walker Armstrong. The Bulldogs answered with three runs in the third. After Zach Lampreia singled, Colby Barrick stayed hot with a two-out RBI-double to tie it 1-1.  Studebaker followed with a RBI-single, stole second and came around to score on a RBI-double off the bat of Jacob Tonascia to give Hancock a 3-1 advantage.

Cypress erupted for five runs in the fifth aided by two Hancock errors to take a 6-3 lead. The Bulldogs remained down by three until they rallied in the seventh. James Fitzmaurice pinch hit with the bases and two outs and singled in Justin Daraban to cut the deficit to 6-4. Tim Mahoney followed with a two-run single that drove in Barrick and Studebaker and tied the contest 6-6.

The game-winning rally started in the eighth when Daraban hit a one-out single. Wyatt Standley entered the game as a pinch hitter and moved to second when Chris Taitague walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Studebaker's second hit of the game.

The Bulldogs outhit the Chargers 12 to nine. Ten Bulldogs collected at least one hit, including Barrick, Studebaker and Daraban who had two apiece.

Armstrong received a no decision. The St. Joseph High School graduate allowed six hits and six runs, three of which were earned, over five innings of work. The freshman walked two and struck out two. Chance Miranda threw two shutout innings with one strike out. Freshman Isaiah Ramos earned the win to improve to 4-0 after allowing one walk and one hit in two shutout innings. He fanned two Chargers.

Hancock resumes Western State Conference play on Tuesday, March 29, at Santa Barbara City College.

Over the last five games, Barrick has 12 hits in 22 at-bats (.545), six extra-base hits, and 8 RBI. Studebaker is 10 for 19 (.526) and 9 RBI over his last five games