Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cubs (5-2) are fourth in the Big 8 conference. Following a 2-1 start to the year, the Bear Cubs have won three of the past four games behind dominant pitching.
Against Laney College where the Bear Cubs won 6-1, five Bear Cubs drove in runs. With sophomore Brandon Hagerla’s pitching, six runs of support was more than enough.
Hagerla limited the Laney offense to only one run while scattering two hits over eight solid innings.
In the game against Shasta, the Bear Cubs lost 2-4, where the Bear Cubs made critical errors.
A second-inning error by third baseman Anthony Bender lead to a pair of unearned runs in the inning. The double play combo of Taylor Martin and Chase Stafford committed errors in the fifth and sixth innings, which lead to two more unearned runs.
Freshman pitcher Ezio Bruchler picked up his second loss of the season after allowing three runs, but zero earned runs, and struck out eight batters over four and one third innings pitched.
After keeping its winning streak, SRJC would rebound with a 7-0 shutout victory over Skyline.
A scoreless game until the fifth inning, the Bear Cubs got on the board with a RBI double from Stafford and that was all that was needed. The Bear Cubs would hammer out 11 hits, with only two hits for Skyline.
Brett Obranovich was masterful, hurling six shutout innings allowing only two hits and three strikeouts. The Bear Cubs’ bullpen came in and closed out the game with two hitless innings.
SRJC brought the conference score to 6-2 after defeating Contra Costa Feb. 18.
Behind a big first inning, the Bear Cubs would cruise to victory behind Hagerla’s big day.
Allowing only two runs while striking out five over seven and two thirds innings, Hagerla cemented his status as staff ace.
Hagerla is 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA and has allowed only 13 hits in 20.2 innings pitched.
The Bear Cubs’ pitching staff as a whole has been equally impressive, boasting a conference lead of 1.45 ERA over the season’s first seven games. Each starter has allowed four earned runs or less in every game this spring.
Crucial errors have left the Bear Cubs hurting during some unfortunate games. The Bear Cubs have committed 13 errors the first seven games with six unearned runs.
It still is very early in the season, and with more than 30 games yet to be played, the Bear Cubs can easily shore up the defense.
The Bear Cubs have made some highlight-reel plays on several occasions, including some phenomenal stops by third baseman Anthony Bender. They have also successfully made 11 double-plays this season.