Mariners' baseball delivered on Thursday afternoon in Pittsburg as they drubbed the Los Medanos Mustangs 12-3 to secure the Bay Valley Conference Title. The offense scored 12 runs on 15 hits while Jason Wutsch earned the victory with a seven quality innings on the mound. Christian Merriwether launched his first homer of the year in the winning effort by the Mariners.
The Mariners were off and running in the top of the first as they loaded the bases with two down before an RBI hit by pitch by MacLean Meyn gave Marin the early 1-0 lead. Wutsch wiggled out of a two on, one out situation in the bottom half of the first. Both teams failed to score in the second before the Mariners put a hurt on Los Medanos starting in the third inning.
Marin loaded the bases in the top of the third with two down and benefited from some shaky defense of Los Medanos to score four runs. An error by the third basement on a ball hit by Davis Barkocy scored two runs, a wild pitch plated another before a double by Randy Fernandez drove in Barkocy to increase their lead to 5-0.
Los Medanos responded with a solo home run in the bottom half but 5-1 was the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.
The Mariners scored two in the top of fourth as they once again loaded the bases. Meyn drove in one with an RBI single and Barkocy walked with the bases loaded to increase the lead to 7-1. Merriwether and James Harwell reached second and third in the fifth with no outs before Alex Davis hit a sacrifice fly and Meyn singled to push the lead to 9-1. Merriwether added another in the sixth with a solo home run of his own.
Marin loaded the bases yet again in the seventh and added another pair on a fielder's choice and a bases loaded hit by pitch to display a clean dozen runs on the scoreboard heading to the stretch.
The Mustangs made a bit of noise in the bottom of the seventh. With two away, a walk and a double scored one before two singles brought home the second run of the inning and cut the lead back to single digits at 12-3. Wutsch pitched through the seventh inning for Marin and allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out six.
Jack Hill and Cody McGunagle each pitched an inning to close out the game and give the Mariners the Conference Title.
It was a very balanced offensive attack for the Mariners as five players had multiple hits, three had multiple RBIs and four scored twice.
Celebrations ensued for the Mariners who have one more game against Los Medanos ahead on Friday, April 27th at 1pm.