The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball opened up a three-game set with American River College with a 13-0 blowout win April 8. 

Scoring 13 runs on 12 hits, the Bear Cubs brought their conference record to 7-6 after a rocky start in conference play. 

“At times the offense has been inconsistent,” said head coach Damon Neidlinger.

Bear Cubs center fielder Matt LaCoco delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 7-0.  “They had certain sequences where they would throw an off-speed pitch and then back it up with a fastball,” LaCoco said. “We got into their bullpen pretty deep.” 

The Bear Cubs knocked out American River starter Thomas Peterson after only one-and-two-thirds innings.  SRJC starter Kyle Mitchell pitched seven-and-two-thirds innings allowing only four hits and one walk.  By the time coach Neidlinger switched pitchers, the game was well out of reach. 

The Bear Cubs’ pitching staff has an impressive 1.77 ERA.

“Anytime one of our starters can go deep into the game, it helps out a lot of the guys behind them too, because we don’t have to use as many guys out of the bullpen, especially on short weeks,” LaCoco said.  We try to keep the same approach as if the game is 1-0 as opposed to 13-0. 

They head to Sacramento for game 2 on April 10, then home for the series finale Friday.