The Santa Barbara High baseball team never recovered from an early deficit and dropped an 8-3 decision at Pacifica on Tuesday.
Despite loss, the Dons are clinging to third place in the Channel League standings at 7-6 with one game to play. They hold a one-game lead over Dos Pueblos and Rio Mesa, who both lost on Tuesday to fall to 6-7. The top four teams in the league receive automatic CIF playoff berths.
Santa Barbara hosts Pacifica in a regular-season finale on Thursday.
Pacifica’s Devon Wilkes hit a home run in the first inning and drove in a second run on a fielder’s choice in the second.
The Tritons scored five in the fifth, with JJ Carmona, Sergio Ruiz, Riley Ortega and Bryant Rader providing the big hits. Pacifica had 12 hits in the game.
Liam Keithley started on the mound for Santa Barbara and pitched 4.2 innings. He allowed seven runs and nine hits. Enrique Ramirez threw 1.1 innings out of the bullpen.
Tomas Gil led Santa Barbara with two hits.