It was a slow start to conference for Bakersfield College baseball as they continued to struggle with hitting, but the tables have turned.
Although the Renegades were outscored 23-9 during the first week of March against Citrus, L.A. Mission and Glendale putting them at 0-3 in the Western State Conference – South Division, they managed to spend this past week finding their rhythm at bat.
Bakersfield earned its first conference on March 10 when visiting Antelope Valley College came into Gerry Collis Field also looking for its first conference win in a back-and-forth contest.
Third baseman Harrison Smith led Bakersfield with four RBIs and three hits, allowing the Renegades to score seven runs – two shy of the total over the previous three games.
“I’m not sure we played much better today [than previous games], we just happened to play the right opponent,” head coach Tim Painton said on Antelope Valley who came in with a record of 3-10, 0-3 WSC South.
Following the victory over the Marauders, BC played against another team looking for their first conference win in West L.A. (4-14, 0-4 WSC) on March 12.
Once again, Bakersfield impressed at the plate going 14-for-38 on the day and bringing in 12 runs while giving up just four.
Josh Stone led BC in the lineup and didn’t disappoint as he had four hits and two runs.
It was the first win for the Renegades on the road this season and it came at the right time.
With a two-game winning streak intact and a game to come against then undefeated Canyons (12-5, 4-0 WSC) on March 14 at home, Bakersfield dug themselves into a three-run deficit after two innings but rallied together and even led until the eighth inning, 5-4.
Things got interesting in the ninth.
Shortstop Eddie Torres seemed to have the walk-off run in the bottom of the ninth but after Canyons coaches argued the call, the run was overturned.
However, Torres redeemed himself in the 11th as he officially captured his first walk-off of his career and giving the Renegades the upset victory over the Cougars, 7-6.
BC, before Tuesday’s affair vs. L.A. Valley will look to continue its hot streak throughout conference before facing Citrus in back-to-back’s on March 19 at home and 21 on the road, then L.A. Mission on March 24 on the road and March 26 at home.
Stay up to date with BC baseball in between issues on therip.com/sports.