With the end of the regular season fast approaching, Moorpark College lost the final game of the season series, 6-4, against Cuesta College in a comedy of errors at Raiders Stadium in the early afternoon sun on Saturday.
Freshman starter, Chase Fredrick, pitched five strong scoreless innings for Moorpark, and had a comfortable three-run lead going into the sixth. However, the Cougars batted around in the inning, and Fredrick picked up the loss when he allowed five runs to cross the plate.
The Raiders were in trouble early in the inning, with the bases loaded and no outs. The Cougars’ first run scored when Fredrick dropped the ball near home plate in a possible double play situation. A groundball to first drove in the second run and put runners in scoring position.
“I got my feet all tangled up,” Fredrick said. “I’m a big guy, and I couldn’t put them back under me. My catcher, Parker Hindle, blocked everything, and saved my butt today. He’s the best catcher in our conference. He controls the game and settles me down when I’m mad.”
A fly ball to the outfield drove in the third run in the sixth for Cuesta, and with two outs and a runner on second, T.K. McWerthor’s base hit scored the fourth run. Designated hitter, Kyle Raubinger’s double, drove the fifth and final run of the rally.
“You can’t make four errors and win a game,” head coach Mario Porto said. “Freddie pitched really well and Thomas pitched well. Our guys did a good job of holding their composure, but we have to play better defense.”
The Raiders struck first when third baseman/pitcher Thomas Luevano’s double opened the fourth inning. Parker Hindle’s sacrifice bunt put the runner on third, and Garrett Serino followed with a single to drive in Moorpark’s first run.
“Fred pitched great, but he didn’t get much support from his defense,” Luevano said. “One error put us down a lot. We just have to win the next couple of games and I think we’ll be fine [for the playoffs.]”
Terrell Tate was safe at first on an infield error in the fourth. Dalton Duarte’s base hit sent the runner home from second with one out, and Jack Mulville’s base hit scored the third run.
The Raiders rallied with the Cougars ahead 6-3 in the eighth. Luevano’s leadoff double was followed by Hindle’s single which put runners at the corners. Serino’s double scored Luevano and put runners in scoring position with no outs.
However, the runners couldn’t advance on Tate’s fly ball out to shallow left, and Sam Gerald’s popup to first base shifted the odds in Cuesta’s favor. Moorpark loaded the bases, but Jessie Aucelluzzo struck out to end the inning and the threat.
“I try to do the best job I can to make the pitchers look good,” catcher Hindle said. “It was a rough game today and it hurts, but we’re going to come out and start winning again and make the playoffs.”
Moorpark is now 17-14 overall, 8-12 in the WSC Northern Division, and hosts Oxnard College at Raider Stadium, Tuesday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m.
