COLLEGE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Oxnard Wins Despite 2 Triple Plays

In a game filled with improbable events, Oxnard College scored an improbable 4-3, 11-inning victory over Mission on Wednesday and advanced to the semifinals of the Channel Coast college baseball tournament.

The Condors (8-19) survived two triple plays to beat the Free Spirit (20-8). That was a rarity that neither coach--Oxnard’s Chris Stevens nor Mission’s John Klitzner--had seen.

With runners at first and second base in the fifth inning, Oxnard’s Pat Queenan lined out to first baseman Marlon McKinney, who tagged first base and tripled off the runner at second.

Then, three innings later, Oxnard had runners at first and second again when Lawrence Cottrell popped up a bunt. With the runners freezing, Mission catcher Joey Gandara played the ball on one hop and threw to third, triggering a 2-5-4-3 triple play.

“It was a heads-up play on (Gandara’s) part,” Stevens said. “It was just outstanding. . . . I thought we were destined to lose.”

Sophomore right-hander Juan Hernandez (1-5) pitched 10 innings, scattering five hits, before giving way to Alex Zavala, who recorded the final three outs. Hernandez struck out three, walked three and threw only 127 pitches.

Nic Frank, who was three for three with three walks and the game’s only extra-base hit, doubled home Ulf Hopen with the game-winning run with two out in the top of the 11th. Hopen had singled with two out off losing pitcher Raul Torres (4-3), who went the distance for Mission.

Ventura 18, Mt. San Jacinto 12--Mike Muncey, a sophomore from Camarillo, had a big day for the Pirates, breaking one school record and tying another in a second-round game of the Channel Coast tournament.

Muncey stole the 22nd base of his career in the fourth inning after reaching base on an error. That moved him past Don Adams in the school record book. Adams stole 21 bases in 1974.

Muncey also tripled twice and extended his hitting streak to 19 games, which tied a record. Kevin French hit safely in 19 in a row during the 1987 season before moving on to Nebraska.

In all, Muncey was three for four with four runs batted in. Chris Mace added three hits and two runs batted in for Ventura.

Relief pitcher Jason Kernan (2-2), who inherited a 9-8 lead in the sixth inning, allowed one run in three innings but still earned the victory.

The Pirates (12-13) will play Santa Barbara--an 11-0 winner over Los Medanos--at 2 p.m. today at Ventura in the semifinals. The final is Friday at noon.