The De Anza College baseball team took on the visiting No. 1 San Mateo Bulldogs and lost 15-1, going down to a 1-4 conference record and losing the series on March 19.

De Anza pitchers gave up 18 hits and 15 runs as the Bulldogs scored in every inning except the sixth and ninth inning.

“They (the Bulldogs) are a good hitting team,” head coach Don Watkins said. “They’re probably going to win the conference.”

The Bulldogs took advantage early, leading 3-0 after the first two innings.

Starting pitcher Gavin Galvez (De Anza No. 18) worked through trouble most of the game but was on the unlucky side of the game as the Bulldogs weren’t hitting the ball hard off him, dropping in bloop hits to score runs.

In the third inning, what would have been an inning ending dropped strike three, a potential interference call on Ethan Lopez (San Mateo No. 30) that the umpires ruled that he did not interfere with the ball as he beat out the throw to first base.

That play left Watkins and the Mountain Lions dugout unhappy as the inning went on and the Bulldogs took advantage on what could have been a shutdown inning, they went on to score four runs.

“That would have been the third out in the inning so that was a little frustrating,” Watkins said. “It busted our bubble on that play.”

Galvez completed six innings, giving up 11 runs and striking out Bulldogs.

“Some lucky hits on their (San Mateo) part but he’s (Galvez) throwing the ball well,” Watkins said. “When we wanted the ball out of the zone, he (Galvez) didn’t do that, … he put the ball in the zone with two strikes because he got a lot of two strike counts.”

Watkins contented to speak about Galvez performance and gives him credit for how well he did in the game.

The Mountain Lions had their chances on the offensive side of the game.

In the first inning Drew Paxton (De Anza No. 2) 20, business administration major and Brandon Kim (De Anza No. 29) both reached base on a single.

Starting pitcher Michael Volkman (San Mateo No. 14) was able to get back to back strikeouts and a lineout to center field to escape the inning.

De Anza went scoreless until the fifth inning when with runners on first and third, Paxton dropped down a sacrifice bunt to bring in Xaiver Pateli (De Anza No. 7) 21, liberal arts major to score.

“I think Coach Watkins is going to get us right and get us on the right path of working our craft and get us back to winning,” said Pateli.

With a 15-1 loss, the Mountain Lions still had energy through the game supporting their teammates and the whole dugout up and watching until the last out.

“I try to get the guys to back their guy up either at the plate, the field, or on the mound. If they make an error or bad play or something they didn’t like, just try to pick them up,” Pateli said. “Energy is a big play in the game. You never know what can happen.”

The Mountain Lions look to pick each other up in the finale of the three game series against San Mateo, looking to avoid a sweep.