The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team took the first two games of a three-game set against Cosumnes River on the back of a five-run first inning at home Thursday, moving to 18-0 on the season.
The Bear Cubs flexed their offensive prowess early by sending nine batters to the plate in the first inning.
After a scoreless top of the first, freshman outfielder Cooper Wood worked a lead off walk to set the table in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman designated hitter J.T. Summers stepped into the box and smacked a home run, giving the Bear Cubs an early 2-0 lead.
Summers has homered in each of the Bear Cubs’ last two games and has three total on the season.
“I’m just approaching with a lot of confidence, I received the ball very well, I know what I’m looking for, and I’m going up there hitting hard,” Summers said.
The Bear Cubs weren’t done yet. Sophomore first baseman Josh Martin and sophomore second baseman Joe Brown both walked and freshman outfielder Shane Moran poked a ball through the infield to make the game 3-0.
Freshman shortstop Brett Neidlinger singled to keep the line moving, followed by freshman third baseman Caze Derammelaere who was hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Sophomore catcher Cameron Duran added a sacrifice fly to make the game 5-0.
“They compete on every pitch, they’re composed, they’re confident. It’s a preparation and meeting opportunity and they do that,” assistant coach Tom Francois said.
Bear Cubs freshman starting pitcher Evan Sandoval used the five-run start to his advantage, going two and two-third innings with four strikeouts.
However, Sandoval ran into trouble in the third, walking three in the inning and allowing one to score on a balk.
Sophomore pitcher Brice Cox took over and escaped the jam.
“Twenty-seven to 38% of the time a walk scores. And in a close game like that, you can’t afford to do that,” Francois said. “That was my only disappointment.”
Cosumnes River starting pitcher Ben Pernetti settled down and threw six shutout innings after the five-run first.
“That was highly unusual for him to have that kind of an outing. Then we got donutted the rest of the way, we just couldn’t respond,” Francois said.
The Hawks inched closer in the sixth inning. Cox gave up two hits to open the inning, and both runners later scored on an error by Neidlinger.
Freshman Luke Dillon relieved Cox in the seventh and gave the Bear Cubs a much needed shut down inning in a tight game.
The Bear Cubs called on sophomore pitcher Raul Valdivia for a six-out save and he delivered. Valdivia struck out four Hawks in his two innings of work, allowing only one to reach base.
“When I came in today, I just felt like everything was working, and I feel like I basically blew it up there,” Valdivia said.
The Bear Cubs dominated in the final game of the series at Cosumnes River on Friday, winning 12-0 and moving to 6-0 in conference play and 19-0 on the season.
SRJC returns home Tuesday to open a three game set with San Joaquin Delta College.
