The Pitman High baseball team defeated Merced High at home on Friday, 7-6, after a sacrifice fly from Brent Gonsalves drove in Alex Sniezek from third in the bottom of the seventh. Starting pitcher Jordan Gonzalez threw for 6 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs on three hits, six walks, and struck out 10 before being relieved by Derek Finney.

The Pride (14-11-1 overall, 8-6 CCC)  were up 5-2 in the seventh with two outs after Finney allowed four runs and the team was down 5-6 with only three outs. Byron Baker then hit the RBI single to score Drew Lewis and tie the ball game before Gonsalves drove in the game winner.

Brennan Hauser, Dakota Spillers, Trevor Chaney, Gonzalez and Byron Baker each had at least two hits for the ball game as the team tallied over 12 hits for the day.

Looking ahead, the Pride will face off against crosstown rivals Turlock High (24-1, overall, 14-0 CCC), who are currently ranked in the top 50 in state, on Wednesday at Turlock High at 4 pm.

“We're in the playoffs ...it takes some pressure off,” Pitman head coach John Acha said. “These guys have had our number, but the way we have been bouncing back all year has been great ... these guys will come out to play and lay it all out there.”