The Mariners fell for the second time in three games to the Laney College Eagles on Saturday. A one run affair was not decided until the final frame as Marin had a chance to rally but were unable to draw even. Dominic Burke started for the Mariners and delivered a quality start, but his teammates could not muster enough offense to earn the victory.
After Laney failed to score in the top of the first, the Mariners put two on with nobody out, but could not push the opening run across. Laney obliged in the top of the second as they put runners on the corners with nobody out. A single scored the Eagles' first run followed by a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Dominic Burke did an excellent job limiting the damage as he forced a pop up and a fly out to strand runners in scoring position.
Adam Hussain doubled to lead off the second and moved to third on a ground out. After a walk to Burke a pop out kept him at third with two down. A walk to Randy Fernandez loaded the bases but Christian Merriwether grounded out as the Mariners continued to trail 1-0 after two complete.
Burke held Laney scoreless in the third before the offense rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning. With one away, Alex Davis doubled and moved to third on a passed ball. MacLean Meyn grounded out to drive in Davis and tie the game at 1-1.
Neither team was able to score in the fourth but Laney made noise to start the fifth inning. The Eagles put two on with two out before an RBI single untied the game and gave Laney a 2-1 lead. Burke pitched effectively and did not allow the Eagles to score another run. He threw six innings allowing just two runs while striking out four.
Marin's offense continued to sputter as they put just one runner on between the sixth and eighth innings. Owen Hamilton relieved Burke and kept the Laney bats quiet through the seventh and eighth. He retired the first batter of the ninth before Nick Roth relieved him.
Roth allowed the first two batters he faced to reach before yielding a single that scored a run to give Laney a 3-1 advantage. Marin had their chances in the bottom of the ninth.
With one away Adam Harwell singled and Burke followed with a walk. Shane Dalton pinch hit and was hit by the pitch to load the bases with one down. Fernandez launched a ball high to the outfield, but it was tracked down for the second out of the inning. It did score Harwell as the Mariners trailed but one with the tying run on second base. Unfortunately, Merriwether went down swinging to end the game.
It was the Mariners fourth loss in five games, but still remain in striking distance of the Bay Valley Conference title as they hold a half game lead over second place Los Medanos. Marin has three games against Solano College beginning April 17th before finishing the season with three against the Mustangs of Los Medanos.