SANTA ANA - The Dons hot hitting to start the season continued in their 14-4 win over Los Angeles Pierce College. The win improves the Dons to 4-0 on the season while LA Pierce falls to 1-2.
It didn't take long for the Dons to get going in the first inning with Ryan Aguilar being hit by a pitch to leadoff the game before JB Bryant drew a four-pitch walk. Two batters later, Daniel Martinez singled in Aguilar before Collin Nyenhuis' sacrifice fly scored Bryant to put the Dons up 2-0.
However, in the third inning the Dons found themselves trailing for the first time this season. The Brahmas pushed three runs across on three hits including a two-run double. The Dons quickly erased the Brahmas lead in the bottom of the third when Bryant scored on a wild pitch.
The Dons reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning when Bryant hit a two-run single that scored Geoff Schuller and Josh Vargas. Later in the inning, Tyler Madrid hit a two-run single of his own that scored Aguilar and Bryant before Martinez scored on a RBI-double by Nyenhuis.
After allowing the three-run third inning by LA Pierce, Dons starting pitcher Matt Blanchard took control as he retired the last 13 batters he faced. The last baserunner he allowed was on the two-run double that gave the Brahmas the lead.
In the sixth inning, the Dons got their first home run of the season courtesy of Madrid who hit a shot to left-centerfield. Not to be outdone, Martinez followed with a two-run home run of his own in the seventh inning.
Prior to Martinez' home run, the Dons had already scored three runs. Vargas scored the first run of the seventh on a wild pitch before Bryant singled in Walker and Aguilar. Bryant would score on the home run as part of the five-run inning that capped the Dons scoring.
LA Pierce would push one more run across before it was all said and done with Rhet Montana scoring on a bases loaded balk. But Bryant changed roles from designated hitter to closing pitcher as he struck out both batters he faced to end the game.
Blanchard improved to 2-0 on the season after allowing the three runs on four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings. Julian Achez took the loss for Pierce, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings of work.
The Dons remain home for their next game as they host El Camino-Compton Center on Saturday, February 9 at 12:00 p.m.
