One big inning was the difference in Thursday's loss to College of the Sequoias. Marin yielded four runs in a decisive fourth inning and despite a rally in the fifth it was not enough as they dropped their fourth straight game by the score of 6-4. Nick Roth pitched six solid innings with Matthew Lozovoy throwing the final two frames. The Mariners scattered 11 baserunners but could only push runs across in the fifth inning.
Both teams failed to score in the top of the first inning, but Marin started to make noise in the top of the second. The Mariners loaded the bases on a trio of walks with two down but Will Langan flew out to center, stranding the bases loaded. Marin and Sequoias were held scoreless in the third but the home team broke though in the fourth.
Sequoias started the bottom of the fourth with three consecutive singles to load the bases against Mariners' starter Roth. The next batter hit a potential double play ball to second which was booted allowing a run to score and reloading the bases. A bases loaded made the score 2-0 and the following single increased the home team's lead to three. A double play allowed a fourth to score before Roth struck out the final hitter of the inning.
Down 4-0, the Mariners were not deterred, even with two outs in the fifth. Landen Moran and Anthony Pomilia singled and Casey Armusewicz followed with a single to plate Moran. Conor Bardue lined a two-run double to bring the Mariners within one at 4-3.
Neither team made any noise in the sixth and Marin went down in order in the top half of the seventh. Matt Lozovoy took over in the seventh and allowed a lead off single. A fielding error put two before a strikeout and caught stealing put a runner on second with two outs. After wild pitch a two out single gave Sequoias a 5-3 lead.
Marin had two on with two out in the eighth but could not push across any runs. In the bottom half a walk and stolen base put a runner on second with two down before another key single by the home team increased their advantage to 6-3.
The Mariners could not make any noise in the top of the ninth going down in order 1-2-3.
Roth pitched six innings allowing four runs and striking out four. Matthew Lozovoy pitched the last two innings and gave up two runs one earned while striking out one. Bardue had two RBIs with his double and Armusewicz scored a run and drove in one as well.
Marin has an evening to recover before facing the College of the Sequoias Giants for a second time on Friday, February 8th at 2pm.