By: Amber Treybig
After going into extra innings, the Santa Barbara Foresters pulled off a win against the San Diego Waves due to a couple of errors leaving the Foresters with a 2-0 record to start the summer.
In the 11th inning with runners on first and third, Dylan Paul, Texas State Freshman, steps up to the plate and hits the ball past the mound towards the San Diego shortstop but failed to field the ball allowing Texas State Junior, Granger Studdard to score the winning run.
The low scoring game was a result of a pitching duel between the Waves and the Foresters. Matt Withrow, senior from Texas Tech, started on the mound for the foresters pitching three innings, striking out six batters, and allowing just three hits and two walks.
With the score remaining 0-0 at the top of the 7th inning, the Waves third baseman, Mitch Bumman, put a run on the board after driving the ball over the left-field fence off of Tyler Cohen.
With plenty of chances for the Foresters to get on the board, the Sters’ starting gaining momentum in the bottom of the 8th after Michael Smith’s pinch-hit triple and Brandon Evans hit by pitch.
The Waves brought in pitcher Cole Lang who threw a wild pitch allowing Smith to score to tie the ballgame.
With bases loaded due to a walk and two outs, Studdard’s hit bounced into a double play to conclude the inning.
After another two innings of silent bats, the Foresters finally gained complete control due to a couple mistakes by the Waves. After Lang walked Studdard, Jeremy Montalbano’s easy double play ground ball turned into an error by Bumman giving the Foresters the win.
The Waves finished with 10 hits outhitting the Sters by four.
The Foresters go on to play their first away game against the Santa Paula Halos Thursday, June 4th.