The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team opened conference play by sweeping Modesto in a three-game series, the latest a walk-off at home on Friday to improve to 3-0 in conference play and 16-0 overall to start the season.
After allowing only three hits in the first two games of the series, the Bear Cubs pitching once again dominated, taking a no-hit bid into the seventh inning..
Their team ERA now sits at 2.42, the best in California, according to the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA). Freshman pitcher Wyatt Abramson set the tone right from the jump, striking out two and allowing no baserunners over three strong innings.
Modesto Pirates pitcher Dustin Tinsley matched Abramson with three scoreless innings of his own, despite the Bear Cubs making solid contact. SRJC hitters continuously hit into hard outs or left runners on, totaling seven stranded on the day.
“Hard hits count as wins, so we keep them encouraged by saying, ‘if you hit it hard, that’s a win,’” assistant coach Tom Francois said. “They know, even though as frustrating as it can be, it wasn’t productive, however, keep hitting it hard, they’re going to start dropping.”
Freshman pitcher Lucas Hermes took over in the fourth inning and picked up right where Abramson left off, giving the Bear Cubs four shutout innings with six strikeouts.
Tinsley continued to match the Bear Cubs, allowing no runs through his first five innings. “He was dominating,” Francois said. “We faced their second best guy, but he did a great job.”
beats out a throw at first base against West Valley on Jan. 28, 2025. (Nathan Kaito Morris)
The Bear Cubs finally found some holes in the Modesto defense in the sixth inning. Freshman right fielder Ayden Herrguth worked a walk and freshman designated hitter J.T. Summers doubled to set the table for sophomore first baseman Josh Martin, who hit a double of his own and gave the Bear Cubs a 2-0 lead.
Modesto answered quickly, picking up their first hit of the game in the top of the seventh, followed by two walks to load the bases. Through the first six innings, the Pirates didn’t get a runner into scoring position.
With the bases loaded and only one out in the seventh inning, Modesto looked primed to score. Hermes slammed the door and struck out the next two hitters looking.
“He really cowboyed up, he knew the pressure was on. And against left-handed hitters, he was absolutely dominant,” Francois said. “Oh, man, I was nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I was just hoping we’d get outs.”
“I just had to go dark, compete, and that’s what happened,” Hermes said.
Sophomore pitcher Raul Valdivia took over for Hermes in the eighth inning and gave up a game tying two-run home run to Modesto’s Ny’Zaiah Thompson.
“I wasn’t confident in my stuff, I was having trouble with my cutter and my legs were hurting a little bit,” Valdivia said.
With the game tied 2-2 the Bear Cubs leaned on Valdivia in the ninth to settle back in and he delivered, striking out two Modesto hitters to help push the game into extra innings. He stayed locked in for the tenth inning and retired the side in order.
The Bear Cubs didn’t wait long to strike in extra innings. Freshman left fielder Anane Wilson singled to lead off the tenth. Freshman Cooper Wood pinch ran and immediately stole second. “If [Wood] gets on first, just put him on second because he’s so quick,” Francois said.
Wood advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and Modesto intentionally walked Summers and Martin to load the bases. Sophomore second baseman Joe Brown stepped to the plate.
“I was a little pissed off about it, because you don’t like getting walked to get to you,” Brown said.
Brown put the ball on the ground and, despite Modesto’s attempt at a double play, walked it off for the Bear Cubs.
“A lot of confidence in this team because they just know how to win. They know how to compete to win, and that’s what they’ve been doing,” Francois said.
The Bear Cubs have won 16 straight games and will travel to take on Cosumnes River on March 4.
