The Cosumnes River Hawks fell to the Chabot College Gladiators 7-3 on Feb. 21, dropping their record to 3-6.
Due to construction at CRC’s baseball field, the game was played at California State University, Sacramento.
“We didn’t hit with guys in scoring position. We walked too many guys [and] hit a couple guys. They were a better team,” CRC head coach Tony Bloomfield said.
Chabot’s starting pitcher Juan Padilla, who got the win, pitched seven innings, giving up three hits and no runs.
“Our guys didn’t attack him right,” Bloomfield said. “He’s a sinker, slider guy. Our guys were giving in.”
CRC’s starting pitcher Austin Ales took the loss, as he pitched five innings and gave up six hits and three runs.
The Gladiators drew first blood, scoring a run in the third inning and two more in the fourth inning.
The Hawks failed to catch up and soon found themselves down five runs when the Gladiators scored twice in the eighth inning.
But the Hawks refused to fold their wings.
After two singles by sophomore center fielder Colby Brenner and sophomore second baseman Jake Schu, freshman first baseman Garrett Heisinger walked to load the bases with one out.
Sophomore shortstop Josh Silver struck out swinging, and with two outs, sophomore third baseman Phillip Roa hit a single to bring Brenner home, giving CRC its first run of the game.
Sophomore catcher Shawn Wheeler smacked a line drive over the leaping shortstop to bring in two more runs, making the score 5-3.
“We knew they were going to come back,” said Chabot head coach Steve Friend. “Going through my mind was, ‘Help. Let’s get out of this inning.’”
With two down and the potential winning run at the plate, sophomore designated hitter Colby Wilmer hit a towering foul ball down the left field line that appeared to be out of reach, but that didn’t stop the Gladiator’s freshman left fielder Rett Cortez.
“At first, I didn’t think I was going to be able to get there,” Cortez said. “But the ball was hit really high, so I kept sprinting out there and then decided I could make a play. So I ended up diving and caught it.”
Cortez’s catch bailed out his team and ended CRC’s eighth inning threat.
The Gladiators added two more runs in the ninth inning and eventually sealed the game 7-3, improving their record to 6-4.
Bloomfield said the Hawks need to find a way to play better and be more consistent.
“We got a long ways to go to get ready for the Big 8,” Bloomfield said.