College of Marin Baseball was poised to hit the midpoint of the season on a high note. They led the Contra Costa Comets 5-2 in the ninth inning and were just two outs from clinching the victory. Then disaster struck. The visiting Comets loaded the bases on three consecutive walks before Jared Jackson blasted a grand slam to left, crushing the Mariners' hopes. The Comets scored again in the ninth as the Mariners were powerless to prevent a 7-5 loss. Owen Hamilton started and pitched into the eighth inning, but was denied the victory.
The game started out the right way for the Mariners after Hamilton dealt with the Comets in the top half. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Dionathan Cornet singled and moved to second as Joey Loveless was hit by a pitch. Cornet stole third and came home on a dropped popup by the Contra Costa second baseman. Eric Woodrow followed with a two run single and Marin led 3-0 early on.
Offense was at a premium for both teams after the first inning as the Mariners did not record another hit until the eighth. Hamilton limited Contra Costa to just three of singles through the seventh inning, but the visitors scored single runs in the fourth and the sixth innings. One scored on an error, while the other came courtesy of a two out single, cutting Marin's lead to 3-2.
The Mariners added on in the eighth as Cornet walked and Loveless singled to lead off. With one out, Eric Woodrow doubled to score Cornet, before Nick George's hard-hit grounder towards the Comets drawn in infield was bobbled to plate Loveless.
Tyler Shelley relieved Hamilton with one out in the eighth inning and kept the Comets from scoring. Leading 5-2, Shelley started the ninth on the hill and struck out his first opponent. Shelley lost sight of the strike zone and walked the next two hitters to bring the tying run to the plate. Nick Kennison came on in relief and walked the first batter he faced, before serving up the game winning grand slam to Jackson.
The Comets added another run on a single and double before Riley Cronin got the last out of the inning for Marin. The Mariners went in order in the ninth and fell by a final score of 7-5.
Woodrow had two hits and three runs batted in for the Mariners while Loveless and Cornet each had a hit and scored twice. Hamilton got the tough luck no decision after pitching 7.1 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) with four walks and eight strikeouts. Kennison ended up taking the loss for the Mariners.
The team ends their non-conference season with an 9-10 record. They begin Bay Valley Conference play on at home on Tuesday, March 10th against the Napa Valley Storm.
