SANTA BARBARA – The SBCC baseball team fell at home in its series opener to Moorpark on Wednesday 7-3.
The Vaqueros (15-11, 8-5) finished with more hits than the Raiders (11-14, 9-4), but weren't able to turn them into runs until too late in the game. Moorpark was able to turn SBCC mistakes into runs, as the Vaqueros finished with a 3-0 disadvantage in errors.
The Raiders took the lead in the top of the first. Michael Jester opened the game with a single to left and made it home without another hit coming in, scoring on a wild pitch.
Santa Barbara picked up outs on the first two batters in the second, but a crucial Vaquero fielding error extended the inning, allowing Moorpark's offense to stay on to score two more runs. In the third, Moorpark's Paden Riley walked, advance to second on an error, to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice bunt to make it 4-0.
SBCC showed life in the fourth, getting on the board to cut into the lead. Caiden Matheny singled to left field and made it to third on a single to right from Pearce Blaney. Matheny then scored on a sacrifice fly into deep left by Hunter Call.
Moorpark added another two runs in the top of the sixth, including another unearned run on a sac fly to go up 7-1. The Vaqueros had a mountain to climb in the bottom of the ninth and would save their best offense for last.
Gabe Baldavino earned a walk and Mark Hernandez doubled to left, putting runners on second and third for the first time in the game. Tyler Imbach then singled up the middle, a two-run hit that brought SBCC within four, 7-3. However, that would be the home side's final hit of the day.
Pitcher Aiden Garza went for more than six innings, giving up just two earned runs. Adrese Azzani came in for the ninth and was outstanding in one full inning, striking out two and not allowing anyone on base.
Santa Barbara faces Moorpark once again on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on the road.