Nick Nastrini and three relievers combined to allow five hits, and the Santa Barbara Foresters’ offense continued to roll in a 10-1 baseball win over the Texas Express at Pershing Park on Wednesday.
Ryan Holgate belted a two-run homer and had three hits, Matthew McLain went 3 for 4 and scored two runs and Jace Jung, Bradon Boissierre and Noah Cardenas each drove in two runs as the Foresters banged out 16 hits and improved to 6-1.
Nastrini gave up a lead-off homer to Christian Garcia of Texas in a slow-starting first inning. But the UCLA standout got stronger inning by inning. After Parker DeLeon doubled to start the second, Nastrini retired the next 11 in a row.
Jack Cunningham pitched the sixth and seventh, and Jake Harrell and Santa Barbara High alum Derek True finished out the game.
McLain got the Foresters going in the bottom of the first with a triple to right-center field off Texas stater Davion Calhoun. Jung followed with a an infield single to tie the score, 1-1.
Pat Caulfield started a two-out rally that resulted in three runs in the second. McLain and Jung singled and Bradon Boissiere doubled to right to make it 4-1.
Boissiere added a RBI single in the fourth and Holgate blasted his two-run homer off reliever Julian Garcia to raise the Foresters’ lead to 7-1.
Santa Barbara added three more runs in the fifth. Noah Cardenas had two RBI on a ground-rule double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Caulfield brought home Cardenas on a grounder to shortstop.
The Foresters and the Houston-based Express will play a doubleheader Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m.
Due to COVID-19 guidelines, spectators are not permitted at games at Pershing Park.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.