Corey Enables Pierce to Stay in Playoff Hunt

Shortstop Bryan Corey went three for four with a home run, double, single, sacrifice fly and five runs batted in to lead Pierce College to a 7-5 victory over Ventura in a Western State Conference game Tuesday at Pierce.

The Brahmas (20-13, 17-9 in conference play) remain one game behind Valley in the race for second place in the conference and a berth in the Southern California regional playoffs.

Corey, who has signed a letter of intent with Grand Canyon University, hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give Pierce a 6-0 lead.

After Ventura pulled to within 6-5 with a five-run rally in the eighth, Corey’s sacrifice fly gave the Brahmas a two-run cushion.

In other games:

Valley 6, Bakersfield 5--Carlos Olmos’ one-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in Doug Rubin in a WSC game at Van Nuys.

Juan Velazquez (2-2) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to extend to 10 1/3 his streak of scoreless innings in relief. Velazquez retired the final nine hitters he faced.

David Stevenson was three for five for Valley (19-13, 18-8).

Oxnard 11, Santa Monica 3--Nic Frank was three for five with two RBIs and a stolen base for Oxnard, which came back from a 3-0 deficit in the WSC game.

Frank’s RBI triple keyed Oxnard’s four-run third inning. John Chaparro was four for five with two RBIs.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 11, Cal Lutheran 9--The Kingsmen outhit the Mustangs, 15-11, and stranded 12 runners in the nonconference loss.

Carlos Cardenas had three hits, including two triples, and drove in two runs for Cal Lutheran.