After splitting two games with Glendale, Bakersfield College (23-15, 16-8) finished the regular season in sole possession of second place in the Western State Conference South Division, one game behind first place L.A. Valley.
The Renegades, seeded No.12, are headed for a first round playoff match-up at No. 5 Santa Ana on May 14.
BC had a chance to move into a first place tie in the division with Valley after the lost to Canyons, but dropped their final home game versus Glendale 4-3 on Tuesday May 3.
Renegade starting pitcher Eric Schanz threw four innings while giving up all four of the Vaqueros’ runs and fell to 5-6 on the season. He started well, but gave up three runs in the third inning on four hits and never regained his control. Schanz got into trouble again in the fifth hitting a batter and giving up two singles to give Glendale a 4-1 lead.
Right-handed reliever Neal Hubman replaced Schanz in the fifth inning with runners at first and second base, and got out of the inning without giving up any more runs.
Hubman, the lone highlight for BC, pitched five scoreless innings allowing only two Vaqueros to reach base. At one point he retired 12 consecutive batters.
Glendale starter Gary Kim also had a strong outing going seven innings and giving up three runs for the win. Reliever David Fox threw the final two innings of the game to pick up his first save of the season.
BC got their first run of the game in the third after a single by Daniel Anaya was cashed in with an RBI single by catcher Brett Prieto.
They answered Glendale’s run in the fifth with a run of their own as an error on a double play ball hit by Anaya allowed Ryan Steele to reach third.
He later scored on a fielder’s choice by Ross Hoffman to cut the lead to 4-2. The Renegades scored again in the sixth as Seth Palmer doubled home Dominic Fontana, who walked earlier in the inning.
BC’s offense struggled all day to get hits with men in scoring position leaving seven men on base. That combined with a few base-running errors prevented the Renegades from coming back from an early 4-1 deficit.
This was most evident in the eighth inning when BC missed a golden opportunity to tie the game.
Josh Christensen hit a line drive to center field that was caught and Prieto was tagged out at first for the double play.BC rebounded from the loss in their next game as they beat Glendale 6-0 on the road the finish the regular season schedule.