Nick Acosta had five RBI and the San Benito Haybalers pounded
out 16 hits en route to an easy and convincing 18-2 victory on
Tuesday against host Everett Alvarez in Salinas.
SALINAS
Nick Acosta had five RBI and the San Benito Haybalers pounded out 16 hits en route to an easy and convincing 18-2 victory on Tuesday against host Everett Alvarez in Salinas.
The game was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule after the Balers, who improve to 3-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League and 5-2 overall, scored multiple runs in each of the first five innings.
San Benito jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame, and although the Eagles responded with one in the bottom half, the Balers increased their lead to 10-1 after two innings, 12-1 after three and 16-1 through four full innings.
San Benito has now won three straight league games by a 44-8 margin.
Acosta was 3 of 3 with a double to go along with his five RBI, while teammates Isaak Ramos was 2 of 2 with two RBI, Mark Hurley was 2 of 3 with a two-RBI double, and Kyle Vallejo was 2 of 3.
Vallejo, meanwhile, made up one part of a five-pitcher committee for Tuesday’s game against Everett Alvarez, each pitcher tossing one inning of work.
Darin Gillies (1IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 1K, 2BB) started the game for the Balers, while Dustin Rovella (1IP, 0R, 1H, 3K, 1BB), Vallejo (1IP, 0R, 0H, 1K, 0BB), Justin Schlie (1IP, 0R, 0H, 1K, 1BB) and Trevor Fabing (1IP, 1R, 1ER, 2H, 0K, 0BB) finished the game in relief.
The pitching committee allowed manager Michael Luna to keep his staff fresh and ready for a key two-game series this weekend against Salinas (0-2 TCAL). Gillies will get the starting nod once again on Friday, when the Balers and Cowboys will meet up in Salinas for a 4 p.m. game.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday for an 11 a.m. game in Hollister.
Meanwhile, last Saturday’s scheduled league game against Everett Alvarez in Hollister was postponed after the Eagles were unable to field a full team. However, the game is expected to be rescheduled in late April.
TEAM
SB — 462 42X X — 18 16 2
EA — 100 01X X — 2 3 3
