Nathan Saito and Kyle Geary launched back-to-back home runs in a seven-run fourth inning for the Carpinteria baseball team on Tuesday, and the Warriors needed every bit of the offensive outburst in an 8-7 non-league victory over Cabrillo.
Carpinteria took a comfortable 8-0 lead into the fifth but the Conquistadores put together their own seven-run inning in the top of the fifth, which featured a Zach Pecyna three-run homer.
Warriors starting pitcher Kyle Geary had yielded only a single up until that point and finished the inning on his way to recording the victory. Geary fanned eight batters and had three hits at the plate including his home run. Trevor Madden came on in relief in the sixth and closed out the game for the save.
Saito produced the biggest hit of the day, his fourth inning grand slam. It was his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The shortstop has also knocked in 13 baserunners in just seven games for the Warriors.
Steven Blum and Isacc Cervantes came through with RBI-singles and Tony Sanchez and Diego Carrillo posted multi-hit games.
The win gives Carpinteria (4-3) the season series with the Conquistadores (5-4) – a three-game set in which each game was decided by one run.
The Warriors, who don’t start league play until April 7, take on Oregon’s Marist on Thursday before Spring Break kicks in starting this weekend.
CARPINTERIA 8, CABRILLO 7
Cabrillo 000 070 0 – 7 9 1
Carpinteria 001 700 X – 8 13 0
C – Naputi, Sommers (4), and Mertz. Carp – Geary, Madden (6), and D. Carrillo. WP – Geary 2-1. LP – Naputi 2-1. 2B – C 2 (Greathead, Mertz) C 1( Sanchez). HR – C 1 (Pecyna 5th, 2 on), Carp 2 (Saito 4th, 3 on, and Geary, 4th, None on).
