With a raucous crowd on hand, the Bear Cubs baseball team (21-8, 9-6) won 8-1 against American River College behind a dominant pitching performance on April 11.

Pitcher Brett Obranovich pitched seven innings with zero earned runs on four hits, and five strikeouts.

“Defense made a lot of good plays behind me,” Obranovich said. “Defense made plays like always. Throwing strikes, being a machine, locating all your pitches; first pitch strike, lead off out with at least two pitches. That’s our philosophy here.”

Weston Bryan struck first for the Bear Cubs when he singled, bringing in Matt LoCoco to make the score 1-0 in the bottom of the third.

“I just went up to home plate and looked for a pitch I could hit hard, LoCoco said.”

The Bear Cubs rattled off three runs in the fourth, starting with LoCoco when he hit a monstrous two-run double. Then Phil Ramos doubled to bring in another run, bringing the score to 4-0.

The first of two runs in the sixth inning was lead by a Ramos’ bunt and Chase Stafford singled up left field to score LoCoco, again, extending the lead to 6-0.

Then Dane Erbst singled to bring in one run; Stafford was not as lucky as he was called out at home plate, making the score 7-0.

“From my stand point, I thought I had a solid game overall,” Stafford said. “My offense is still not where I want it to be but I’m glad we got the W.”

One more run was scored when Ramos hit a one-run double extending the lead 8-0.

The lone run for ARC was in the eighth, when Steve Mercado got a base hit bringing the score 8-1 SRJC.

“It was solid. Brett [Obranovich] did exceptional well, said head coach Damion Neidlinger.  “As you head into these future series, you got to have guys out of the bullpen that are ready to go in there. J.J. [Jamerson] has been good and sometimes you can’t let them [pitchers]  sit too long.”

Up next, the Bear Cubs travel to Modesto Junior College April 15.