The Foresters erupted for five runs in the seventh inning to erase a 4-2 deficit and defeated the Ventura Pirates, 11-4, in a non-league game at Pershing Park on Friday.
It was the fifth straight win for the Foresters.
With the bases loaded, Kevin Michaels hit a two-run single to tie the score and Daniel Peterson followed with a two-run double to left field. After Peterson advanced to third on a wild pitch and Ryan Black flied out, another wild pitch by Ventura reliever Chris Lazano scored Peterson for a 7-4 Santa Barbara lead.
The Foresters finished off the game with four runs in the eighth. Gianni Horvat and Jalin Flores hit back-to-back singles and scored on an error and a wild pitch, respectively. Max Belyeu scored on a Daniel Patterson fielder’s choice and Greg Pace came home on a ground-rule double by Eammon Lance.
Patterson had a big night at the plate, going 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Lance went 3-4 with two RBIs and Michaels had two hits and a pair of RBIs.
Santa Barbara starter Ben Bybee pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and struck out four. Reliever Jacob Hughes gave up a two-run homer to Ventura’s Sean Mann.
Taber Fast replaced Hughes and allowed one hit in 1.1 innings. Zachary Yates wrapped up the win in the ninth.
The Foresters next play a two-game series against Inland Valley Pirates on Saturday and Sunday at Pershing Park. Saturday’s game is at 6 p.m.