The Vaqueros’ bats blazed through 25 runs to win the final two games of a three-game series against the College of the Sequoias Giants this week at Pershing Park.
City College headed into the three-game series with an 0-4 record, being outscored by 21 runs in those games.
“I think in the beginning we were just all kind of in a little bit of a slump,” said catcher Jake Gagain. “And now we’re showing what we’re really capable of.”
Game one was all about pitching as two Giants combined for 10 strikeouts while surrendering just one walk and seven hits. City College scored two runs off of errors but it wasn’t enough as College of the Sequoias came away with a 4-2 win.
Thursday’s game was City College’s fifth consecutive loss to start the season. The offense only managed to produce eight runs during those games.
“We were kind of in our own heads and beating ourselves,” said designated hitter Nicolas Bereaud. “And I think our record doesn’t reflect what type of team we are and what we are capable of.”
Bereaud woke up the Vaqueros in the second game when he hit a two-out grand slam in the first inning. That hit opened the floodgates for the Vaqueros as they tallied up 14 hits in the 13-10 win.
“Hitting is contagious really,” Bereaud said. “If one guy starts doing it then everyone will start doing it, so hopefully we can keep rolling it.”
Sophomore Bereaud did keep it rolling, reaching base safely in all five at bats. He added a solo home run and two doubles to end the day 4-4 with seven RBIs.
“We’ve been working a lot with coach Heil on our hitting approach and he’s been emphasizing really keeping it simple,” Bereaud said. “And fortunately they left some pitches over the plate that I was able to drive.”
In Saturday’s rubber match the Giants got on the board in the first inning but City College responded immediately with three two-out runs in the bottom half of the first.
“We’re showing what we’re capable of,” Gagain said. “And were stringing a lot of hits together, and a lot of two-out clutch hitting.”
The Giants scored four runs in the fourth but City College responded immediately once again. City College loaded up the bases to start the inning, then Gagain emptied them with a grand slam. Gagain credited Bereaud for waking up the bats the previous day.
“That fired me up,” Gagain said. “Nic Bereaud was great yesterday.”
Bereaud followed his seven RBI performance with two hits and two more RBIs and head coach Jeff Walker praised the players ahead of him in the lineup.
“It’s the guys ahead of him getting on base, grinding out at bats, seeing pitches that allow for that opportunity,” he said.
City College went on to win the game 12-5 to take two games out of three against College of the Sequoias.
“Overall, great job at winning the series,” Walker said. “That’s a playoff team that went to the final four two years ago.”
Up next for the Vaqueros is East Los Angeles at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Los Angeles. Then City College begins conference play at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Moorpark.
