Bakersfield College got offensive on April 21 as they tallied up 11 runs on 15 hits, beating College of the Canyons 11-4 and improving to 20-14 (13-7 WSC) on the season.
Seven of the nine BC players in the starting lineup had multi-hit games.
Sophomore right-hander Erich Schanz of the Renegades pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
“I didn’t feel like I pitched to the best of my abilities. I was missing my spots, down the middle and high,” said Schanz, who improved to 4-5 with the victory.
Canyons starter Jake Coash, who is 19th in the state in strikeouts per game, threw for 4 1/3 innings before surrendering to reliever Justin Zarley in the fifth. Coash got hammered for nine runs and dropped to 2-3 on the season.
“I’m not sure he was ready to compete today,” said Canyons coach Chris Cota of Coash’s performance.
With the loss, the Cougars fell to 14-16 overall and 10-10 in the Western State Conference South Division, good enough for fifth place in the standings.
The Renegades took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Brett Prieto and Kyle Morgan. First baseman Ross Hoffman started the two out rally when he reached second on an error with two outs.
In the bottom of third inning, BC scored three more runs to increase its lead to 5-0. After consecutive singles and a hit batter, shortstop Daniel Anaya scored on a fielder’s choice by Morgan. Two batters later, a single by Josh Christensen scored Hoffman and Morgan.
Canyons made a swift comeback, scoring four runs in the next two innings to cut BC’s lead to just one. The first of the four runs came in the fourth inning after right-fielder Kyle Boggio singled home Matt Stevens. Matt Reimers jumpstarted the offense the next inning with a bunt single, and two hits later it was 5-4.
BC came right back to score six runs in the next two innings to pad its lead. After Hoffman struck out and Prieto grounded out, the Renegades had five straight men reach base on two singles, a double and a walk leading to a four-run fifth.
“I left the ball up, but our offense came right back to get the runs,” said Schanz.
In the following inning, a leadoff triple by Anaya got the inning started, and Hoffman promptly singled him home to add another run.
An RBI double for Prieto scored Hoffman as the Renegades took a commanding 11-4 lead and never looked back.
“I think Steele’s first at-bat set the tone of the game” said BC coach Tim Painton. “Clutch two-out base hits were really the difference, and we had them throughout the game.”
BC is now two games behind division-leading L.A. Valley (13-5 WSC) with four games remaining.
Their next game is on April 28 at L.A. Pierce.