After edging Alvarez 9-8 Tuesday, San Benito baseball team routs
Eagles 14-0 Thursday
Salinas
Marisa Ibarra allowed one hit and struck out 12 Thursday in a 2-0 win at Salinas, as the San Benito ace continued to dominate league opponents.
The Lady ‘Balers improve to 7-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League with the victory, and have shut out each opponent they’ve faced in conference play.
“She pitched real well,” manager Scott Smith said. “They caught us at a good time. We weren’t swinging the bat real well, but it showed how many different ways we can win a ball game.”
Elena Fata his a sac fly in the first inning to plate JC Clayton from third base – a run that proved to be the game-winner.
San Benito tacked on an insurance run in the fourth, though, when Bri Romero went from first to home on a single play – a Haley McFarlane bunt.
Romero advanced to second on the bunt, and then bolted for third once she saw no Cowboy was covering the base. Salinas tried to get McFarlane out at first, but a throwing error resulted and Romero continued on to home.
The two-run win was far tighter than Tuesday’s victory, when the Lady ‘Balers defeated visiting North Salinas 10-0 in six innings. San Benito had previously defeated Salinas 8-0 at home. The Cowboys fall to 3-5 in league.
San Benito (20-4 overall) will host Everett Alvarez Tuesday.
SB 100 100 0 – 2 4 0
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SAN BENITO BASEBALL
At Salinas, the San Benito Haybalers followed their tight 9-8 win against Everett Alvarez Tuesday with a 14-0 thumping Thursday in a game that was called after five innings.
The ‘Balers are now 12-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
Manager Michael Luna was not pleased with his team’s sense of urgency after Tuesday’s one-run win, and he challenged his players Thursday to step it up.
“I had a long talk with them [Wednesday] with just how we played,” Luna said. “I challenged them; let’s have five or six guys be the guy today.”
The challenge resulted in 13 hits and just one error, while Alvarez was held to three hits by pitchers Darin Gillies (3 IP, 2 hits, 6 K’s) and Bret Furtado (2 IP, 1 hits, 5 K’s).
“It helps a lot when the guys on the bumper throw a lot of strikes and get a lot of strikeouts as well,” Luna said.
San Benito (19-4 overall) will host Palma Saturday.
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EA 000 00X X – 0 3 3
