ROHNERT PARK — A win the Lower Lake Trojans needed to become eligible for the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs barely eluded them Monday afternoon as a late rally fell just short in a 7-6 non-league varsity baseball loss to the Technology Titans at Rohnert Park.
Lower Lake (7-11) erased a 6-2 Technology lead with a run in the top of the sixth and three in the seventh. A baserunning mistake cost them a chance to snap a 6-6 tie before Technology (10-5) won it with a two-out RBI single in the bottom half.
“I really wanted this and the boys really wanted it,” Lower Lake head coach Mark Peterson said of the loss.
Lower Lake’s comeback began with Dylan Sherman’s RBI double in the sixth. Reliever Zach Jones struck out the side in the bottom half. In the seventh, RBI singles by Jett Guralas and Jordan O’Keefe keyed a three-run outburst as the Trojans pulled even at 6-6. They had a runner at third base with one out when Cody Gasperoni lined out to center field, but the runner didn’t tag up.
In the bottom of the seventh, Technology’s leadoff batter reached on an error and stole second base. One out later a weakly hit comebacker to the mound advanced the runner to third as Jones threw out the batter at first base. The game ended on the next pitch with a single down the left field line.
Lower Lake took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Technology pushed ahead to stay with three runs in the bottom of the inning against Lower Lake starting pitcher Edward Gutierrez. Both teams scored a run in the third to make it 4-2 before the Titans added two runs in the fifth for a 6-2 lead.
Gutierrez worked four innings before giving way to Jones.
Lower Lake’s six hits were divided between three players. Guralas went 2-for-4, both doubles, and stole two bases. O’Keefe went 2-for-2 with a double and three stolen bases while Sherman went 2-for-4 with a double and one stolen base.
Monday’s game was the first of four for the Trojans this week. They play at Fort Bragg on Tuesday, return home for a non-league game Thursday against Potter Valley, and remain home Friday to take on St. Helena.
