ARCATA — RBI singles by Zack Bailey, Mike Davis and Chris Aguon broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the 12th inning and lifted the Kelseyville Knights to a 4-1 non-league victory over the Arcata Tigers in the first game of a twi-night varsity baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Arcata.
The Tigers rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win the nightcap 9-5.
“They are a pretty good team, a team we could see in the playoffs down the road,” Kelseyville coach Lou Poloni said of the Tigers (6-2). “I was happy with the split on the road against a quality opponent, but after winning the first game, I got greedy.”
Kelseyville took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning in game two when Arcata struck for six runs, aided greatly by three Knights errors.
“That was the only disappointing thing the entire doubleheader,” Poloni said. “Defensively we”ve been keeping innings small this inning. We”ve made mistakes but held teams to just one run. But the wheels fell off just a little bit. We gave up a crooked number and it”s hard to come back from something like that.”
Nick Rodrigues opened on the mound for Kelsyeville in game two and took the loss in two-plus innings of work. He allowed five runs, only one of which was earned, and two hits.
“Nick threw the ball pretty well but we didn”t do much to help him defensively,” Poloni said.
Davis went 3-for-4 in game two to lead the Knights (7-5), capping a 7-for-10 day at the plate. Dustin Thaxton went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
In the first game, both teams pushed across a run in the third inning and that was it for the scoring until the Kelseyville 12th. With one out, Rodrigues reached on an error, moved up to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Bailey”s single to make it 2-1. After a bunt single by Nic Vargas, Davis and Aguon connected for back-to-back RBI singles.
Vargas, the third Kelseyville pitcher, shut out the Tigers in the bottom of the 12th to nail down the victory. He worked the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing no hits or runs, striking out one and walking two.
Thaxton started and pitched nine innings, allowing all eight Tigers hits and their only run. He struck out five and walked three.
“He threw the ball very well, but we had to wiggle out of a lot of jams,” Poloni said.
Davis went 4-for-6 at the plate with two doubles and a RBI.
Aguon caught 17 of 18 innings in the doubleheader and was among the heroes for the Knights in game one, according to Poloni.
“He saved us a bunch times in that first game,” Poloni said. “He made some stops that saved runs.”
Kelseyville opens its North Central League I North schedule on the road today in Willits at 4 p.m. The Knights travel to Lower Lake on Friday.
