‘Balers led by pitchers Eichhorn, Provost and Schlie en route to
9-0 win against Everett Alvarez Tuesday
SALINAS
Pitchers Jacob Eichhorn, Tyler Provost and Justin Schlie combined for a complete game three-hitter and led the San Benito baseball team past host Everett Alvarez 9-0 Tuesday in Salinas.
Eichhorn threw five innings and allowed two hits while striking out seven, while Provost (1IP, 1K, 0H, 0R, 0BB) and Schlie (1IP, 3K, 1H, 1BB) finished the game in relief.
“Jacob Eichhorn threw very well,” San Benito manager Michael Luna said. “They were never a threat to score any runs.”
Alvarez’ only chance came in the seventh inning. Trailing 9-0, the Eagles put two on with no outs, but Schlie managed to strike out the side and preserve the shutout.
The ‘Balers, meanwhile, took advantage of five Eagle errors to plate runs in each of the first six innings. Ricky Garcia was 2-for-2 with a double and two walks, while teammate Ramiro Chapa went 3-for-4.
“We could have probably scored more runs,” Luna said. San Benito had approximately three to four chances with runners in scoring position, the manager added, but were unable to come through with the clutch hit.
Luna mentioned that a few of his players fell ill recently, perhaps on the plane ride home from the team’s trip to Las Vegas where the ‘Balers compiled a 3-1 record at the 17th Annual Easter Classic.
“The bounce in their step wasn’t there and not where I wanted it to be,” Luna said.
Nevertheless, nine runs was certainly a comfortable lead for San Benito, which improved to 10-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 18-4-1 overall.
The ‘Balers scored one run each in the first three innings, with Chapa’s RBI single in the first supplying San Benito will all the run support it would need. The ‘Balers added another in the second when Nick Acosta reached on an error, scoring Trevor Fabing from third base, while Mark Hurley’s slow roller in the third inning resulted in a throwing error as well, plating Steve Cabral.
Following two more runs in the fourth, San Benito added another pair of scores in the fifth behind an RBI double from Garcia and an RBI single from Chapa.
Justin Schlie then tacked on runs No. 8 and 9 in the sixth when he connected on a pinch-hit single that plated both Isaak Ramos and Mark Hurley.
Garcia’s 2-for-2 performance with two walks, meanwhile, has elevated the senior’s recent on-base percentage. After going 8 of 11 at the plate in Las Vegas, Garcia has reached base safely 15 times in his last 19 at-bats.
Garcia and the Haybalers will look to continue their strong play of late when they host Everett Alvarez Friday at 4 p.m., before they travel to Salinas Saturday to take on rival Palma.
SB – 111 222 0 – 9 12 1
EA – 000 000 0 – 0 3 5
WP: J. Eichhorn
