ARBUCKLE >> Gabe Padilla’s RBI single tied the game during a five-run top of the sixth inning and a run-scoring balk put Lower Lake ahead to stay in a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over the Pierce Bears on Monday afternoon in non-league varsity baseball action at Arbuckle.
Lower Lake’s rally came just in the nick of time as the season opener for the Trojans (1-0) was called after six innings because of darkness.
“Our defense wasn’t too sloppy and we looked good hitting early,” Lower Lake coach Jim Peters said. “We had first-game jitters. Eight walks (issued by Lower Lake pitching) is too many. We can’t have that.”
Lower Lake broke open a scoreless game with a three-run top of the second. Pierce got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning and tied the game with a two-run fourth. The Bears then pushed in front 5-3 with two more runs in the fifth.
JT Tinkler’s double ignited Lower Lake’s five-run rally in the top of the sixth.
Austin Oranje, the fourth and final Lower Lake pitcher, worked 1 1/3 perfect innings for the victory. Bobby Cruz started for the Trojans and was followed to the mound by Bryan Fonseca, Michael Taliaferro and Oranje.
Eight different players had hits for Lower Lake in its first game of the season. Gabe Padilla knocked in two runs while Cruz, Izzac Carver and Antonio Padilla also had RBIs. Fonseca went 1-for-2 with a double.
Weather permitting, Lower Lake plays El Molino on Thursday in Forestville at 3:30 p.m.
