Bakersfield Pierced by Glendenning Home Runs

So at least one team managed to convert a point-after attempt.

That would be Pierce College, which rode Mike Glendenning’s two home runs, one a grand slam and the other with a man on, to a 13-12 victory over Bakersfield in a Western State Conference game Saturday at Pierce.

The Brahmas (21-10, 11-6 in conference play) remained two games behind Canyons in the South Division race but moved ahead of Bakersfield (20-15, 10-7) by one game.

“I didn’t think we played real well, but the two home runs by Glendenning made up for the lack of execution,” said Bob Lofrano, Pierce coach.

The Brahmas committed four errors and stranded seven runners.

But Glendenning, a sophomore third baseman, buried the Renegades nearly single-handedly.

With Bakersfield ahead, 4-1, the Brahmas loaded the bases in the fifth inning against right-hander Joe Abiecunas (1-1) and Casey Cote singled home one run with a blooper to right field.

Glendenning followed with a booming smash over the left-center-field fence, his first grand slam of the season. The Brahmas added one more in the inning for a 7-4 lead.

“He threw me a 2-0 fastball,” Glendenning said. “We are taught that if a guy gets behind on the count, to look for the fastball.”

The six-run outburst in the fifth gave left-hander Keith Reed (6-3) breathing room until Bakersfield rallied for three runs in the sixth to tie the score, 7-7.

Pierce chased Abiecunas in the sixth with three runs, two of them on Glendenning’s second homer, a liner over the center-field fence. The blast, his 11th of the season, came against left-handed reliever Troy Parker and gave Glendenning 26 runs batted in, tops in the conference.

Bakersfield, which had 18 hits, got to Reed and reliever Rick Staves for two runs in the seventh to close the gap to 10-9, but the Brahmas rallied for three more with two out in the eighth after a controversial balk call on Parker.

Glendenning reached on a fielder’s choice and Parker picked him off at first, but the plate umpire ruled that Parker had balked, sending Glendenning to second and Bakersfield Coach Tim Painton rushing out to argue the call.

The balk seemed to unnerve Parker, who wild-pitched Glendenning to third. Carlos Nunez followed with a run-scoring single to center field, the first of four consecutive hits that gave Pierce three runs and a 13-9 edge.

“That’s the first balk that’s been called on that kid all year and he’s been using that move all season,” Painton said.

The Renegades, who got off to a 6-0 start in conference play but have struggled lately, didn’t go quietly in the ninth against Brahma closer Harry Kenoi.

Brandon Ritchey led off with a double and scored when Kyle Ursery’s single to right got past Dan Arnold, Ursery advancing to third. Ursery scored on Brian Bowman’s infield single and Bowman eventually scored on Dan Gonzalez’s grounder.

Lofrano opted to intentionally walk Gary Keller to load the bases and Kenoi, who picked up his sixth save, retired pinch-hitter Michael Jennings on a fly ball to left field.

Pierce’s Dave Cipolla was two for two, including a double, and Nunez, Kirk Mayer and Brandon Murphy each had two hits.

Bakersfield’s Mark Gentry was four for four.