Jacob Eichhorn throws five strong innings, San Benito upends
Vikings 6-1
Hollister
Already with a two-game lead on its nearest opponent, the San Benito baseball team kept its stranglehold on the league after it defeated visiting North Salinas 6-1 Tuesday, and improved to 8-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
Jacob Eichhorn allowed five hits over five innings to earn the win, striking out eight in the process. Manager Michael Luna said Eichhorn was only supposed to throw two innings, but the game was too close, and Eichhorn was pitching too well, for him to pull the sidearm pitcher, who is usually noted for his relief work.
“He needed to be in there,” Luna said. “Again, it comes down to us struggling offensively.”
Despite picking up the win, San Benito only picked up eight hits, and Luna was disappointed that the Vikings were able to plate a run. The run was unearned after a pick-off attempt at second base failed and resulted in a fielding error.
While temperatures dipped and wind gusts provided a rather un-April-like feel, the ‘Balers were perhaps looking toward their next scheduled game at rival Gilroy. Nevertheless, Luna challenged his team after the game to “raise the bar.”
“I’m not expecting perfection, but we’re striving for perfection,” he said. “Our expectations should be higher than they are right now … Every time we play, I ask myself, ‘Did we play well enough to win a CCS playoff game?’
“I thought we should have had another shutout.”
The last two games for San Benito were in fact shutouts, as they had kept North Salinas and Salinas scoreless with 9-0 and 5-0 wins, respectively.
San Benito scored four runs in the second on just two hits, taking advantage of Viking miscues to jump out to an early lead.
After the ‘Balers loaded the bases behind a hit-batsmen and two walks, Zach Canez hit a pitch down the first-base line that resulted in a throwing error, and scored both Ronnie Fhurong and Kevin Burley. Later, Abel Jacquez scored from third on a wild pitch, while Brian Haggett followed with an RBI double that plated Canez.
Spencer Brann tacked on some insurance in the fifth when he lined a double to the right-field wall, scoring Steve Cabral, and Burley knocked in Brann on an RBI single up the middle later in the inning.
Bret Furtado came in for one inning of relief and struck out one. Miles Sanchez pitched the seventh in what was essentially a throwing day for him, as he’ll start Thursday on the mound at Gilroy.
Sanchez pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out two.
Gilroy dropped to 5-3 in the TCAL after a 7-1 loss to Palma Tuesday. The Mustangs have lost eight of their last nine games, including their last seven straight.
First pitch is at 4 p.m. in Gilroy.
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