Timely hitting by Moorpark College throughout the lineup, led by Thomas Luevano and Parker Hindle, produced a 7-2 win over Allan Hancock College at Raiders Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
Starter, Wyatt Birg, pitched five innings, giving up only one run in the third inning for the win. His record is now 5-2. Middle reliever Emery Johnson, pitched three shutout innings, and infielder/pitcher Luevano picked up the save.
“Wyatt pitched well, and the big kid, Emery, pitched well,” said head coach Mario Porto. “Even though [Hancock] got ten hits; we hit with guys in scoring position. That’s huge.”
With two outs in the second inning, a base hit by Robbie Hynes drove in a runner from third for the first run of the game for the Raiders. A groundout with the bases loaded and one out in the third, scored the Bulldogs first run to tie the game.
Moorpark added three additional runs in the fifth, driving the game beyond Hancock’s reach. With a runner on first and two outs, Luevano’s triple drove in the second run. Parker Hindle’s single sent Luevano home and Garrett Serino’s double scored Hindle for the fourth run.
“We came out firing offensively, and our pitchers did a great job, freshman Riley Conlan said. “Overall, it was a great team win today.”
The Raiders tacked on two additional runs in the seventh, with three doubles in the inning. Conlan’s two-bagger with no outs was followed by Luevano’s double with one out, scoring Conlan. Hindle’s two base hit sent Luevano home.
“It’s my first game back in a little bit, and I feel great,” said Conlan. “I was battling a hamstring problem.”
Moorpark added an insurance run in the eighth when Ryan Mulville opened the inning with a base hit, and came home two outs later on Conlan’s hit.
“Riley Conlan’s a legacy,” Porto said. “His brother played here on that 2012 team.”
The multitalented Luevano, wearing his pitching cap, survived a momentary scare in the ninth with the bases loaded, one run in and two outs. The Bulldogs produced four hits in the inning, but pinch hitter Bill Daly struck out to end the game.
“We have a history of other teams scoring a bunch of runs in the late innings,” Conlan said. “Today the pitching won out.”
The Raiders are now 10-9 overall, 4-7 in the Western State Conference, and host Rio Hondo College at Raider Stadium, on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, at 2:30 p.m.
