Kyle Froemke went 2-4 on Tuesday and broke the non-conference game open by ripping a grand slam in the seventh to propel SBCC to a 14-7 win at Fullerton.
The Vaqueros (9-5) have won three in a row and six of their last seven. The Hornets fell to 4-8-1.
Eight Fullerton pitchers gave up 14 runs on seven hits. They struck out 13 but also issued 18 free passes with 12 walks and six hit batters.
Leading 8-6 in the seventh, SBCC loaded the bases with one out on walks to Owen Crevelt and Noah Williamson, followed by Ryan Guardino getting hit by a pitch. David Baer replaced Blake Hearn on the mound and Froemke, a transfer from Oregon, greeted him with his fourth homer of the year, a grand slam to left field that expanded the lead to 12-6.
The Vaqueros trailed 4-3 in the fourth, then went ahead to stay (6-4) by scoring three runs on an RBI single by Guardino, an RBI groundout by Jacob Bravo and an RBI hit to the pitcher by Alonzo Rubalcaba. Rubalcaba and Brandon Lawrence each walked three times.
Toby Spach pitched the first three innings for SBCC, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits. Dylon Furseth pitched the fourth and Mason Metcalfe came in to start the fifth. The former San Marcos High standout held the Hornets to two runs on five hits over the last five innings to earn the win. He struck out four and walked one.
The Vaqueros will host Chaffey in a two-game set on Friday (2 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.) at Pershing Park. The Panthers are coached by former Vaquero assistant and recruiting coordinator Mike Cordero.
