The Santa Barbara Foresters had a late lead slip away as they fell to the OC Riptide 6-2 on Wednesday at Great Park in Irvine.
The Foresters jumped on the Riptide early, scoring a run in the top of the first on an RBI double by Tanner O’Tremba to put them up 1-0.
After the OC Riptide answered in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1, neither side was able to get across home until the top of the sixth.
That was thanks in part to solid pitching by Santa Barbara starter Payton Tolle, who buckled down after allowing the run in the second. Tolle ended up going six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out nine.
In the top of the sixth, Miguel Santos put the Foresters back on top with an RBI single to make the score 2-1. Santos would end the game 3-for-5.
However, the rest of the game was all OC Riptide as they managed to plate three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to secure the 6-2 victory.
The late runs came courtesy of a pair of RBI hits and a crucial error by the Forester outfield that brought home two runs.
Santa Barbara (14-9) will look to bounce back when they take on the Arroyo Seco Saints at Jackie Robinson Field on Thursday at 6 p.m.