AREA COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

If Coach Bob Lofrano of Pierce has another pitcher with the initials J.K., he might want to give him a start.

Last week, right-hander Jesse Kozlowski and left-hander Joel Kirsten threw consecutive shutouts, keeping the Brahmas in the chase for first place in the Western State Conference Southern Division.

Pierce (17-10, 9-5 in conference play) is three games behind first-place Glendale (23-3, 12-2).

Kozlowski (3-1) struck out three and allowed five hits in beating Oxnard, 11-0, on Thursday and Kirsten (4-1) struck out 12 in a five-hit, 7-0 victory over Moorpark on Saturday.

Lofrano said the Brahmas have not had consecutive shutouts in his 11 seasons with the team.

“It’s hard enough to get one shutout, let alone back to back,” Lofrano said.