SIX-RUN 8TH INNING GIVES KNIGHTS FIRST WIN OF2019

The Knights broke a 4-4 tie with a 6-run eighth inning to earn their first win of the season, 10-4, over College of the Desert on Tuesday at Morley Field. 

City was down 4-3 going into the bottom of the 7th, but Matt Brinkmeier got the Knights started with a pinch-hit infield single. He advanced to third base on a single by Brendan Gerbert and then scored the tying run on Hector Carreon's single through the right side.

Makena Fo came in to pitch in the top of the 8th and, after giving up a lead-off walk, got the next three Desert batters to foul out, fly out, and foul out. 

Then the Knights' bats really came alive in the bottom half of the 8th. Rigo Duarte hit a lead-off double and was followed by an Angel Morales single. Duarte then scored the go-ahead run on a squeeze bunt by Gerbert, who was able to reach on an error by the first baseman. 

Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Baker Springstun came through with a 2-RBI single up the middle to give the Knights a 7-4 lead. Then, with two out and two on base, Alex Garcia belted a home run to dead center that put the Knights in full control with a 10-4 advantage. 

Fo came back out in the 9th and earned his first win by getting Desert's final four batters to strike out, fly out, walk, and strike out. 

Catcher Nick Mora went 4-for-5 on the day with two RBI. Springstun went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs. 

The Knights improved to 1-12 overall and 1-3 in the PCAC. These same teams will meet again at Desert on Thursday afternoon before returning to Morley Field for the final game of the 3-game series on Saturday at noon.