San Marcos scored on a walk-off wild pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 Channel League baseball over Santa Ynez Tuesday.
The victory combined in Santa Barbara defeating Dos Pueblos, 3-2, in nine innings, gives the first-place Royals a two-game leader of their rivals with three games to play.
With Santa Ynez leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Royals’ Caden Hodina led off with a hit to left field. Steven Bradley moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, and Hodina saw no one covering third and slid in safe.
Joaquin Sandoval then tripled, scoring Hodina with the tying run and putting himself on third with one out. Santa Ynez intentionally walked Brendon Cekada and Nicky Fell to load the bases. Owen Estabrook took a pitch in dirt, and the ball squeaked by the Pirates’ catcher, allowing Sandoval to score the game-winner.
Sandoval led the Royals with two RBI on the triple, and sac fly, and the walk-off run scored. Aiden Mandel, Hodina and Darren Orlando all had hits while the Royals walked seven times.
Royals starter Cole Shoenwetter pitched five innings, with two earned runs and seven strikeouts. Emmett Speake closed the game with two innings, three strikeouts and no earned runs.