KNIGHTS SUFFER 8-2 HOME LOSS TO MSJC

The Knights' playoff hopes took a hit with an 8-2 home loss to Mt. San Jacinto on Thursday afternoon. The loss dropped the Knights to 10-9 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, four games behind second place Palomar with five games remaining. 

The Knights still have four games remaining against Palomar, one of which is the continuation of a March 11 game that was halted because of heavy rain. City has a 5-2 lead in the top of the ninth in that game.

Mount San Jacinto went ahead, 6-0, after scoring one run in the second inning and five more in the third. Knights' starter Ethan Payson was relieved in the top of the fourth by Corey Johnson who finished out the game. 

The Eagles tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to take an 8-0 lead, but the Knights returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning. 

With runners in scoring position, designated hitter Wyatt Logan's ground out allowed Lorenzo Martinez to score from third base. Third baseman Diego Blanco followed with a single through the left side to score Alex Bentley. 

City did not threaten again until the bottom of the ninth when Addison Hull and Martinez got on with a hit-by-pitch and a single, respectively. Unfortunately for the Knights, that was all they could muster.

Mount San Jacinto starting pitcher Zevon Benoit got the next two City batters, Alex Bentley and Dylan Dudley, to hit into consecutive ground outs to end the game. 

The Knights will travel to Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday for a noon game that will complete the season series between the schools. The Knights will wrap up the regular season with two road games and two home games against Palomar next week.