Eagles Win Big at Coso; Drop Close One at Bakersfield

The MSJC baseball team split a pair of games this past week, winning at Cerro Coso and losing a close one at Bakersfield.
The MSJC baseball team split a pair of games this past week, winning at Cerro Coso and losing a close one at Bakersfield.

The MSJC baseball team won 20-1 on Thursday in Ridgecrest over Cerro Coso, but came out on the short end Saturday at Bakersfield 9-8.

On Thursday, the Eagles jumped ahead 5-0 and then had a 9 run sixth as they cruised to a 20-1 win at Cerro Coso.  Jaden Jones had a huge day at the plate as he collected 5 hits in 7 at bats including a homerun.  Aaron Harper had 3 hits, also including a homerun as he drove in a career high 6 runs.  Ricky Nunez added a third homer for the MSJC offense.  Aiden Bruce contributed 3 RBIs in the win while Patrick McDonald Jr. added 2 as eight different Eagles drove in runs in the contest.  McDonald Jr. also pitched the first 3 innings of the game allowing just one baserunner.  Max Rangel pitched the middle 3 frames for MSJC allowing just one run on 2 hits to earn the victory.  Alex Banuelos finished off the game with three scoreless innings of work as he struck out 3 and allowed just one hit.

On Saturday MSJC saw a 5-0 lead slip away as Bakersfield scored two in the bottom of the 7th and two more in the 8th to claim the 9-8 victory.  Simon Rangel was the offensive star of the day going 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBIs in the game.  Harper had another good day as well as he went 3 for 5 and scored two times.  Julian Gonzalez drove in three in the losing effort.  Nunez and Ryan Grinnals both chipped in with a pair of hits each.

The Eagles are now 6-1 on the season and have a couple weeks off before they wrap up their abbreviated season with three more games against Cerro Coso.  MSJC will travel to Ridgecrest on Thursday May 13th to take on the Coyotes at 2 pm, before hosting them on Tuesday and Wednesday May 18th and 19th.