Collin Dewell forced the issue in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Santa Barbara baseball team on Friday, stealing third base and then making it home on a wild throw to give the Dons a thrilling 10-9 come-from-behind victory over Righetti.
Santa Barbara scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie it at 8-8 and send it into extras. Then, after allowing Righetti to take back the lead with a run in the top half of the eighth, the Dons answered by manufacturing two more runs to get the win.
Down 8-4 after five innings, it was Santa Barbara’s (8-7) biggest comeback win of the year and first extra-inning decision.
Junior Alex Spatz sacrificed in the tying run before Dewell scampered home in the eighth. Danny Zandona hit a two-run single and Cam Gniadek followed with a run-scoring hit in the seventh.
“It was a good one for the young ones to learn from,” said Dons assistant coach Mike Cooney of the dramatic comeback. “We can build on that for the rest of the season.”
Sophomore Lucas Benenati saw his first action on varsity, starting the game and getting out of two jams to record two scoreless innings.
Three Dons tallied two hits. Zandona had another hit and another RBI to go 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Joey Gonzales went 2-for-4 and Jack Crummer went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Santa Barbara returns to league play next week.
SANTA BARBARA 10, RIGHETTI 9, EIGHT INNINGS
Righetti 002 042 01 – 9 13 4
Santa Barbara 200 201 3 2 – 10 11 3
R – Mowatt, Van Allen (4), Lytle (6) Sauer (&), and Rae. SB – Lucas Benenati, Martin(3), Eaton (4), Crawford (6), and Fraker. Crawford 1-0. LP – Saur. R 2B Rubal Caba. Sb Gonzales. HR Quigley 4th, 1 on). Records – SB 8-7, R 9-8.
