The Western Nevada Community College baseball team ran into one of the nation's top pitchers in a 4-0 loss to Orange Coast Community College on Thursday in Southern California.
Preseason All-American Keith Demorgandie pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout, throwing 133 pitches. Demorgandie was also able to work around five walks for Orange Coast, ranked No. 7 in California.
Justin Garcia (1-1) allowed four runs, three earned, through four innings. But WNCC coach D.J. Whittemore said Garcia could have easily not allowed a run.
"They're earned in the scorebook," said Whittemore about the runs Garcia allowed. "They did a good job of pushing runs across without hitting the ball hard."
Garcia allowed one run in the first, second, third and fourth innings. Orange Coast scored a run on a wild pitch with two outs in the first, scored with two outs after an error in the second, scored on a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-out triple in the fourth.
WNCC (2-3) received another outstanding effort from Josh Creveling in relief, who pitch four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and walked none. Garcia and Creveling combined for just one intentional walk.
"We played good defense behind Creveling," Whittemore said. "Pitching kept us in the game."
Last weekend, Creveling threw four scoreless innings in a 7-4 win over Arizona's Cochise Community College in Henderson.
WNCC did have its chances early, but left five runners on in the first three innings. "That kind of set the tone for the day," Whittemore said.
Logan Parsley had a hit and also stole a base and Andrew Ferguson had a double for the Wildcats' two hits. "Parsley continued to play well," Whittemore said. "He hit the ball hard."
WNCC continues play today against Southwestern Community College of San Diego at 10 a.m. and Santa Ana Community College, ranked No. 3 in California, at 2 p.m. "It's not going to get any easier," Whittemore said.