City College won the first of a three-game series with a 6-3 victory over Santa Rosa Junior College Tuesday and stands at 15-2 in the Big 8 Conference.

After winning the game, City College tied the Bears Cubs’ record (15-2). Head coach Derek Sullivan said he felt that the team did well. 

“A win’s a win, but I thought we did a good job,” said Sullivan. “There [were] a lot of positives out of that one. Santa Rosa is an outstanding team. We think we’re pretty good—we do have some confidence, but we know they’re good. I thought we stepped up—swung the bats well at good times, and I thought we pitched pretty well today. It was a good effort. It’s a good way to start a series.”

Joey Daini, Greg Nichols, Nik McClaughry and T.J. Wheeler all batted in runs to secure the Panthers’ victory. T.J. Wheeler went 1-3 and finished the game with three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

“They threw me a hanging breaking ball, and I just didn’t miss it,” said Wheeler. “I grinned out some AB’s with some pitches early in the game, and I finally got ahold of one. We stayed in the game the whole time, didn’t flinch, and it was a great performance overall.”

Second baseman Greg Nichols finished the game two hits, a walk and an RBI, including a triple off the right field wall in the bottom of the second.

“I think it was a great overall performance by everyone,” said Nichols. “I think we did really well today even in pressure moments with guys on base. Our pitchers came through, and our defense came through, and obviously, the offense came through with six runs. We’ve got to hopefully sweep them, and it’s going to be important for later in the season.”

Pitcher Dennis Boatman started the game and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning while also giving up two-runs in the fifth. Boatman pitched five innings allowing four hits, two walks and two strike-outs.

“I think our pitching staff, especially the bullpen, did a really good job,” said Boatman. “I take it pitch by pitch. I think we did well. We played good defense. Obviously put up some runs. Had a couple of runs given up in the fifth but battled through it.”

The Panthers will next face Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa Thursday, March 5. Sullivan said he is looking forward to the next game and hopes the team does better on the bench.

“Something we really need to work on is our bench life, guys that are bringing energy in a good way. We need to address that,” Sullivan said. “We’ll go to practice tomorrow and kind of [get] back at it as far as skill-wise to start our general progression throughout the year. We’ll stick with the program.”