The Los Medanos College Mustangs showed off an early offensive surge and strong starting pitching to secure a 7-4 win against Contra Costa College Tuesday, March 17. The Mustangs built a big lead early and never looked back, exterminating the hope of any late game heroics by Contra Costa.
The Mustangs came out the gate wasting no time getting on the board. An RBI single by Daniel Trujillo in the first inning drove in Nate Liddicoat, giving the Mustangs an early 1-0 lead. That momentum carried into a vital third inning.
With runners on first and second, Carlos Garcia laid down a bunt that turned into a game changing play. What looked as though a failed bunt attempt, it turned into chaos on the basepaths, as Contra Costa’s pitcher threw the ball over his first baseman’s head, allowing two runs to score and extending the lead to 3-0.
The Mustangs took advantage of the error with a four-run inning. Brendan Lister reached base on another Contra Costa error, and this allowed him to bring another run. Jerry Coakley ended the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.
Coach Bob Ralston credited Garcia’s bunt as the game-changing move.“I thought when Carlos got the bunt down, the momentum kind of opened up the game a little bit,” Ralston said. “Having that positive pressure gives us a two or three run cushion. So that was a huge play for us. That’s a big part of the game.”
Los Medanos continued to apply the pressure. In the fifth inning, Chris Olsen extended the lead to 6-0 with a single to right field on a 2-0 count. Trujillo added to the advantage in the sixth inning with his second run batted in single of the game, making it 7-0.
Hank Phifer gave a strong performance, striking out five batters across four shutout frames. Coach Ralston made it clear that that performance was dominant.
“You know, our starting pitcher went 4 innings, and anytime you get a shutout that’s a good start. So four shutout innings is a really good start.”
Despite the strong start, the game tightened late. Contra Costa broke through in the seventh inning with an RBI single, and added three more runs in the eighth, shortening the Mustangs lead to 7-4. Los Medanos, however, remained in control to finish the game, even with the lead decreasing.
Trujillo finished with a strong performance and said that the team never fully lost control, but understands that there is always room for improvement, especially when finishing out games. “I felt good, just like always trying to do what I can to help the team with whatever opportunities I get,” he said. “Momentum never really just shifted fully. They were still hanging around there.”
He provided some of his insights based on the team’s mentality for those late innings as well. “You kind of just want to come out and play one out at a time… take it one pitch at a time,” he said. “You just have to find a way to bear down. Especially in those last three, four innings.”
Ralston shared that message as well, knowing the result was a good outcome, but that it can be better.“Anytime you win, it’s good. But it wasn’t a great game,” he said. “We just have to keep trying to get better. Take one game at a time.”
With the win, Los Medanos improves to 14-8 overall and 2-2 in conference play. As they prepare to face Contra Costa again on March 19, the Mustangs are focused on cleaning up late game mistakes and help create consistency.
“Start tomorrow, or tonight really, recovery, and just take it one day at a time. I’ve taken a lot of steps to prepare,’ said Trujillo.