San Marcos used some little ball to spark a comeback in a 10-2 win against Santa Ynez in the Channel League baseball opener on Thursday at Joe Mueller Field.
Down 2-0 in the fourth inning against Santa Ynez ace Vic Heredia, Henry Manfredonia and Chase Hoover drew walks and Brenden Cekada laid down a bunt. The ball was thrown away and Manfredonia scored the first San Marcos run. Hoover scored the tying run on wild pitch and a rundown and Cekada came home for the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
The Royals erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning. Nicky Fell hit a towering double to start the inning and Manfredonia and Emmett Speake both hit run-scoring singles in the inning.
Chase Hoover picked up the pitching win for the Royals, allowing one hit and two walks, while striking out six in three innings. At the plate, Hoover walked twice and scored two runs. Manfredonia also scored twice and Speake drove in two runs.
Santa Ynez scored on a RBI hit by Aidan O’Neill and a throwing error.
San Marcos (7-1, 1-0) hosts Santa Barbara on Wednesday.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.