Pierce Alters Approach and Defeats Citrus in Regional : College baseball: After several comeback victories, Brahmas take an early lead and hold on for 5-4 win.

Coaches like to say that good teams find a way to win, and the Pierce College baseball team did discover a new way Friday--the easy way.

After coming from behind in several recent victories, Pierce jumped ahead and stayed there in a 5-4 victory over Citrus in the first game of the second round of the Southern California regional at Harbor.

“We haven’t done that in a while,” Pierce catcher Jim Wolf said. “It’s a little more relaxing, but you’ve still got to stay on your toes.”

Third-seeded Pierce (24-13) will play fourth-seeded Cypress, an 8-3 winner Friday over Harbor, today at 11 a.m. at Harbor. The winner of that game will not play again until Sunday morning, and the loser will play an elimination game of the double-elimination second round today at 3 p.m.

Pierce’s first four batters hit safely against Citrus starter Kevin Kloek, who has signed with Cal State Northridge, and Pierce led, 3-0, before Citrus came to bat.

Mike Vanacore, Joe Arnold and Pat Huston all singled to load the bases, and cleanup hitter Carl McFadden sliced a two-run double down the right-field line.

Ricky Banuelos followed with a sacrifice fly to center, and Pierce was placed in an unfamiliar position--the lead.

“Here Pierce is in the regional finals, and we definitely weren’t intimated by that,” Pierce co-Coach Bob Lofrano said. “We’re maturing as a team.”

Foothill Conference champion and second-seeded Citrus (27-15) closed the gap to 3-2 with runs in the third and fifth.

Then, with a gusting wind blowing out to right, Banuelos took the wind out of Citrus’ sails with a sixth-inning, leadoff home run to dead center.

“I thought the home run after we battled to 3-2 was probably the turning point,” Citrus Coach Skip Claprood said.

Banuelos shortened his swing after breaking a finger during the season and has since lengthened his hits. The home run, his second of the season, was also his second in the past five games.

“I was thinking line drive,” Banuelos said. “That’s when (home runs) come, when you’re not looking for them.”

Two batters after Banuelos, Wolf walked and advanced to second on a wild pickoff throw. This Brahma then played matador on Glenn Nahmias’ sharp grounder to shortstop.

Wolf froze, the ball went through his legs and caromed off Citrus’ startled shortstop and into right field, allowing Wolf to score and give Pierce a 5-2 lead.

Five runs was enough for starter Chris Brown and reliever Louis Birdt. Brown (3-1), who left leading, 5-3, with one out in the seventh, gave up seven hits and struck out four.

Birdt allowed one hit in the final 2 2/3 innings and earned his 12th save. Pierce ended the game on a double play, its third of the game.

“I think Chris and Louis did a real fine job on the mound,” said Lofrano, who will start Denny Sharp (2-2) this morning.

Kloek (7-5) struck out six in a complete game for Citrus.

Vanacore, Huston and Banuelos each had two hits for Pierce.

On a down note for Pierce, left-fielder McFadden has probably been lost for the weekend if not longer. He injured his left hand diving back to first base in the third inning and was taken after the game for X-rays.