The Mariners opened up Bay Valley Conference play with a 3-1 win over Yuba College extra innings. Despite stranding 16 runners, the team scored twice in the top of the 11th inning to grab the victory.
College of Marin had several chances to score throughout the game, but left countless runners on. They loaded the bases in the top of the first on a single and a pair of walks but failed to score. The first run came around in the top of the second as Paul Kennedy doubled to lead off, and scored on a Brad Bussey single.
Both teams traded zeros until bottom of the seventh inning when Yuba pitcher Darrell Doll singled to lead off and advanced to second on a passed ball. After an error and a fielder's choice put runners at the corners with two outs. A balk by College of Marin starter Dominic Garihan allowed the tying run to score. The Mariners had a chance to retake the lead as they put runners at second and third and no outs in the top of the eighth but were unable to plate the go ahead run. COM pitcher Cooper Casad relieved Garihan to start the eighth and kept Yuba off the board heading into the 11th inning.
Matt Tarantino singled to lead off the top of the 11th inning and advanced to second on a walk to Marcus Chiu. A walk to Ryan Schalch loaded the bases. With one out Chris Hayman reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Tarantino. A fielding error allowed Chiu to score giving the Mariners a 3-1 lead heading to the bottom of the 11th. After a leadoff single for Yuba College, Casad induced a double play before striking out Doll to end the game.
Head Coach Conor Bird was pleased with the win, but noted there are several areas of improvement for the team. "We left a small village out there on the base paths, but at least we managed to scratch across the crucial runs in extra innings" Bird said.
Garihan started for College of Marin and hurled seven innings, allowing just a single run while striking out five. Casad followed with four scoreless and picked up the win in relief while striking out five as well. Hayman had two hits and an RBI, while Tarantino had a pair of hits and a scored a run. COM improved their record to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play while Yuba College's record now stands at 2-10 overall and 0-1 in conference.
The Mariners host Yuba College in Kentfield on Thursday, March 3rd at 2PM