College of Marin Baseball fell on Tuesday at Cabrillo College in a game they should have had. Marin led 5-0 heading to the home half of the seventh inning, but a number of mistakes led to their ultimate demise on a ninth inning walk off error. Despite the loss, the Mariners did get a very encouraging start from Freshman Demian White, who threw six shutout innings before yielding to the Marin bullpen.
Marin scored single runs in the first and fifth innings, courtesy of a sacrifice fly off the bat of Anthony Pomilia and an RBI single from Conor Bardue. They did not score in the sixth but put up a crooked number in the top half of the seventh inning.
Marin put runners on second and third with one away for Bardue who delivered a two-run double to put the Mariners on top 4-0. After a walk, Bardue stole third and came home with two away on a Nicholas Caravello single.
White pitched the first six innings for the Mariners and allowed just three hits and three walks while strike out a trio of Cabrillo Seahawks. He allowed a pair of runners in the second, fourth and fifth but managed to wiggle out of each jam, keeping the home team off the board.
Ryan Moyer relieved White to begin the seventh inning and faced some adversity early on. Cabrillo loaded the bases with nobody out before the sophomore induced a 6-4-3 double play which scored a run. The inning could have ended 5-1, but a while pitch plated another for Cabrillo before a strikeout ended the threat.
Marin was scoreless in the top half of the eighth, and Cabrillo kept the pressure on in the bottom half. They loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, error and walk and scored twice in the inning on a bases loaded walk and sacrifice fly. Tyler Quintanilla started the inning and was replaced by Eric Woodrow who permitted a pair of inherited runners to score.
Michael Benz started the ninth on the hill and allowed a single and hit by pitch to open the frame. Cabrillo sacrificed successfully to put the tying and winning runs into scoring position with one away. After an intentional walk a single tied the game at 5-5 and kept the bases loaded. The next batter hit a potential double play ball to short, but it was mishandled, allowing the winning run to score and ending the game in favor of Cabrillo 6-5.
"We played seven solid innings but it's a matter of the group learning that it's a nine-inning game that led to our downfall" said Head Coach Steve Berringer.
Bardue had an excellent game for the Mariners with two hits, three RBI a stolen base and a run scored. Landen Moran had two hits, two runs and a stolen base as well.
Cabrillo deployed the unusual tactic of nine pitchers in nine innings during the game. The loss dropped Marin's record to 1-2, while Cabrillo remained undefeated at 4-0.
Marin has a day to recover before vising the Diablo Valley College Vikings on Thursday, January 31st. First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.