The Bakersfield College baseball team opened up Western State Conference-South play by winning two out of three games against LA Mission College on March 8 and 10.

Prior to that, the Renegades beat Pasadena City College 10-4 on March 3. BC starting pitcher Monty Stevens got the win. Stevens pitched six innings, giving up three unearned runs on five hits while striking out two. Brooks Douglass went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Harrison Smith went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Jassen Oliver went 1-for-4 with three RBIs.

The Renegades (9-6, 2-1 WSC South) beat LA Mission (7-11, 1-2 WSC South) 8-4 on March 8 to start off conference play. Freshman pitcher Hudson Hartley picked up the win. Hartley pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out two.

The Renegades offense was led by Luis Martinez, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a two-run home run. Harley Lopez went 3-for-5 and scored a run.

Harrison Smith hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to help BC win 10-9 in 10 innings in the second game against LA Mission on March 10. The Renegades rallied from behind three times to get the win. BC trailed 5-1 after two innings, but scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game.

The Renegades then took the lead with a run in the fourth. LA Mission scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead. BC tied it up in the bottom of the seventh inning with a RBI triple by Tyson Brewer.

LA Mission scored a run in the top of the ninth to take back the lead. Smith hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the score and send it to extra innings. Luis Martinez had the game-winning hit, which was an infield single with the bases loaded.

“I felt like we competed extremely well. Every time they scored, we had an answer. I’m extremely proud of our kids,” said head coach Tim Painton.

BC starting pitcher Monty Stevens got a no-decision. Stevens pitched six innings, giving up six runs on twelve hits while walking three and striking out five.

“Typical Monty, though,” said Painton. “As soon as we got back in the game and the game went 5-5, he was right back after it. His best stuff in the game was at that point, but unfortunately he was at 75 pitches at that point. If you keep him in a game, or get him in a game, or give him a lead, he pitches at his best at that point.”

Martinez led the Renegades’ offense by going 3-for-6 with four RBIs. Martinez had a total of eight RBIs in the first two games against LA Mission.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to hit with runners in scoring position, and that’s just a great job by the team to put me in those situations,” said Martinez.

Tyson Brewer went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including two triples.

“I really wasn’t seeing the ball all that well in batting practice. I just told myself I’m going to be as aggressive as I can and play as hard as I can and leave the results up to God,” said Brewer.

BC lost the third game in the series to LA Mission 9-2. Freshman pitcher Luke Andrews got the loss.

Andrews pitched 4.1 innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits while striking out two. Harley Lopez was the only Renegade who had multiple hits. Lopez went 2-for-4.

BC’s next series is against Glendale College at home on March 16, 17 and 18.