The San Benito baseball team extended its league lead over Salinas on Tuesday, beating the Cowboys 5-3 in Salinas.
The victory brings the Balers one victory away from clinching their seventh-straight Tri-County Athletic League title. It also eliminates the Cowboys’ chances of catching the Balers. With two games left to play, San Benito — at 15-1 — holds a one game lead over Palma.
San Benito hosts the Chieftains on May 8.
On Tuesday, San Benito took an early lead, scoring in the first inning. But the lead didn’t last long as Salinas scored off starter Anthony Ocampo in the bottom of the inning.
The score remained the same until the third inning.
San Benito took a commanding 4-1 lead. Jose Guzman drove in two of the inning’s three runs. Overall, Guzman finished 1-for-3.
Lead-off hitter Josh George helped the Balers get started, finishing 3-for-3 and scoring three runs. Craig Slibsager went 3-for-4 for San Benito with a double and RBI.
Jacob Tonascia went 1-for-3 with one RBI for San Benito.
On the mound, Ocampo went 6 and 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs. He finished with six strikeouts.
San Benito added its final run in the seventh inning to win 5-3.
The Balers — now 19-4 overall — host Palma at 4 p.m. May 8.
