California Pintos baseball began another season Monday night when they traveled to Eugene. The Pintos and the Eagles previously played each other March 14 at the California Jamboree with the game ending in a 1-1 tie after four innings. Monday night's game saw California take a two-run lead into the seventh inning. However, the Pintos were unable to hold onto the lead, as Eugene came back to win the game 4-3 on a walk-off single.
Pintos head coach Steven Stock decided to place senior Martin Kilmer as the starting pitcher and Kilmer got right to work by shutting out Eugene in the first four innings with six strikeouts.
In the top of the third, first baseman Hunter Berendzen hit a double to right field to score two runs from second and third base. The Pintos got another run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Kilmer to left field.
Now ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Stock took Kilmer out of the game after Eugene cut the lead to 3-1 and replaced him with Will Edwards. Edwards and the Pintos escaped the fifth inning with an out at home plate after the Eagles were caught stealing home.
In the bottom of the sixth, Eugene again had the Pintos backed into a corner by loading the bases with one out. Stock again made a pitching change and inserted sophomore Colin Kruger for Edwards. Kruger answered the call with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
California went into the seventh inning with a two-run lead and needed three outs to secure the win. However, Eugene again put pressure on the Pintos by loading the bases with no outs. After the Pintos got one out, Eugene scored their second run of the game on a RBI groundout to the shortstop. The Eagles got a break on a shallow pop-up in right field dropped for a hit to continue the game. Then, a hit-by-pitch tied the game 3-3. The Eagles completed the comeback when Collin Moeller hit an 0-1 pitch to right field for a walk-off single and Eugene won the game 4-3.
After the game, Stock said his team played good defense for most of the night and that led to the Pintos controlling the game throughout the night. Stock claimed what led to Eugene's comeback was California's pitchers missing the strike zone in the last three innings and a few miscues that could've led to critical outs.
"We were pretty well in charge for most of the game. We pitched the ball well and our defense played well. Eugene made adjustments at the plate, we kind of lost the strike zone, and we had a couple of plays that we didn't make and it led to a few runs for them at the end," Stock said. "But give credit to our kids. They got out of a bases loaded inning and we just needed to make more plays. If we make two extra plays, we win the game 3-1 or 3-2. So if you make plays you win. If you don't you get beat. That's what happened to us tonight."
The Pintos will look to respond Thursday night at Cole Camp.
Hunter Berendzen hits a two-run double for the Pintos in the third inning against the Eugene Eagles.(Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Will Edwards slides into home plate for a run in the third inning on Monday. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Collin Althoff advances to third base on an error by the Eagles. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Jace Schreck leads off the fourth inning with a single to right field. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Martin Kilmer hit an RBI single for the Pintos. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Will Edwards pitched in relief for the Pintos against the Eagles. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Colin Kruger pitched in relief for the Pintos on Monday night. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)