Pitman varsity baseball scored seven runs in the third inning and Bradley Enos pitched a complete game and allowed just two runs as the Pride defeated Turlock for the second consecutive game, 7-2, on Thursday.
“It’s always intense going into these games but you also need to have some fun while we are out there and that was my mentality; got to relax and take it pitch by pitch,” said Enos. “It’s always tough playing Turlock. That rivalry is always tough, but we are shooting to get that third win for the sweep.”
“I hope we can fix it… we want to get out of this funk sooner than later,” said Turlock head coach Mark de la Motte.
Turlock managed only three hits off Enos over seven innings and committed just a lone error with Landon Curtis on the mound. Pitman committed three errors.
Curtis, who had been nearly untouchable in league prior to Thursday’s start, found his match with the Pitman bats coming alive.
It took only one inning, a long one, for the Pride to attack first. Four hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch followed in the inning.
The Pride’s AJ Encalade struck a two-run single with no outs and Nick Jones later followed with a one out, two-run double and before the Bulldogs knew what happened, Pitman had built a solid 7-0 lead.
“That one inning offensively is what it took and Bradley went the distance and proud of everyone for this one,” said Pitman head coach John Acha.
One of Turlock’s two runs was scored by Peyton Dunseth, who blasted a deep shot to left field for an inside the park homer.
“I thought the outfielder was going to catch it but it went under him and I just kept running,” said Dunseth. “I just keep hitting line drives and getting lucky with infield hits. Now we want to avoid hitting pop flies and make good contact with the ball and hit line drives instead.”
Turlock finished with three hits for the game and Pitman had eight.
Daniel Fareria was 2 for 2 with an RBI and a walk. Evans was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Ben Lascano was 1 for 4 with an RBI and Encalade was 2 for 4 with two RBI. Nick Jones was 1 for 4 with a pair of RBI.
“To be able to take a series, at least 2 out of 3 is great, but we are still scrambling, we still have to win out if we want to have any chance at playoffs,” said Acha. “So every game, no matter who it is against, we are taking it one game at a time, that is what we are preaching.”
Curtis, who saw one bumpy inning, still finished the complete game, allowing eight hits, seven runs, walking two and striking out three. He picked up his first loss in league and first loss since March 21.
Enos allowed only three hits and two unearned runs, walked a pair and struck out four.
“We have to compete and I and knew I had to give it my all and my teammates were going to give it their all,” said Enos. “I had been struggling a bit but I was confident with the team I have behind me. These guys are always in it. Just glad we got our hiccup out of the way early, now we are rolling.”
Pitman improves to 7-4 in the CCC and has won three consecutive league games. Turlock goes to 9-2, and is now tied with Buhach Colony in the CCC for first place.
Pitman will start Jones on the mound on Friday for the series closer and Turlock will be starting Blaine Weber at 4 p.m.
“I doesn’t really matter who Pitman throws on the mound for the next game, we are not scoring or hitting well at all right now,” said de la Motte.
