The Santa Barbara Foresters hit a speed bump on Wednesday, falling 4-1 to the visiting Conejo Oaks after having won 12 of the previous 13 games.
The rubber-match is Thursday in Thousand Oaks.
Tim Kelley (6-1) gave up four runs in six innings and was docked his first loss of the season for the Foresters (35-11,18-5), who have only four regular-season games left before the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kansas.
Brandon Loy recorded two hits, half of a tame 4-hit offensive attack. Loy also knocked in Santa Barbara’s only run after Matt Valaika doubled in the third inning to give the Foresters a 1-0 lead.
Conejo (29-22,12-11) responded with three runs in the top half of the fourth to gain control.
Robbie Selden, who pitches for Cal Lutheran, allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings and struck out eight to get the win for the Oaks.
