The Foresters captured their second straight win over the MLB Academy Barons on Saturday, banging out 13 hits en route to a 7-3 win.
The Foresters were led by starting pitcher Glenn Otto, who was locked in on the mound. He allowed only a bunt single through his first five innings. Two doubles in the sixth, leading to two runs for the Barons, were all the Barons could muster against the Foresters’ hurler. He wound up striking out nine and walking none in his six innings of work.
Glenn Otto and catcher Jeremy Montalbano
Cody Crouse pitched three innings in relief.
Trevor Abrams got things started for the Foresters offense with a lead-off single in the second. He stole second and scored on an RBI single by left fielder Connor McManigal. A single by John Brontsema set up first and third for Troy Cruz, usually a pitcher but getting a rare start at third base. Cruz beat out a would-be double play ball that scored McManigal from third.
The Foresters added two more in the fourth after Brontsema led off with a deep fly ball that was misplayed by Barons centerfielder Keyon Allen. He made it to third, and scored on Cruz’s second RBI of the game. Granger Studdard scored Cruz with a triple to extend the Sters lead to 4-0.
Ffter the Barons made it 4-2 in the sixth, the ‘Sters answered with insurance runs in the eighth. McManigal led off with a double. A bunt attempt by Brontsema led to a run as he was able to beat a wild throw from the pitcher that whizzed down the right field line for an error. An RBI triple by Ryan Chandler, one of three hits on the day for him, and an RBI single by Matt Henderson would cap the scoring for the Foresters.
Cody Crouse, pitching three innings in relief of Otto, allowed only a ninth inning run, picking up the save. The Foresters will look to sweep the series as the play tomorrow at UCSB, starting at 1 p.m.
-Ryan Riffenburgh
