SAN LUIS OBISPO — Five stolen bases, 13 hits and six wild pitches by the other team is going to get it done every time.
The Santa Barbara Foresters (6-3, 4-2 CCL) were all over the basepaths and subsequently all over the host San Luis Obispo Blues (3-4, 4-2) on Sunday night, completing a sweep at Sinsheimer Stadium with a 12-4 victory.
Texas State’s Kyle Kubitza led the effort with four RBIs on four hits, including a ninth-inning triple for the second straight night.
“I’ve always been told growing up that hits are contagious, and I think when you’re putting pressure on a team throughout the whole game it’s a lot more fun. When you start running like that and playing aggressive, especially with this team, I don’t think you can stop us,” he said.
Jared Womack finished up a stellar series with a double, four runs scored, two singles and two walks. After walking in the fifth, the Oklahoma State Cowboy saddled up and advanced all the way home on three straight wild pitches. The Foresters had trailed 2-0 after the first inning in the first two games of the series, but this time took a 3-0 lead after three innings.
“I’m very pleased with these guys. We played crisp and we played sharp, and we got it going early. It’s real important for us to score first. When you do do that, you’re playing with their money,” said manager Bill Pintard. “I thought the energy was outstanding, and I mean we had a lot of hustle doubles. The way we manufactured runs today, theyre all buying in to our system and it’s fun to see.”
Chris Joyce was coming off of a throat infection but was on fire to start things off, striking out eight through four innings. He also walked five and hit a batter, but left the game having given up no hits. The team’s now-formidable bullpen handled things the rest of the way.
On Monday, the team was set to head down to Angels Stadium for a day at the park with a group of 85 people. The special guests for the day are the pediatric cancer patients who are part of the team’s Hugs for Cubs Foundation.
The Foresters are about to get a lot better, as the University of Texas was knocked out of the College World Series on Sunday, meaning that four new additions to the team will be arriving shortly. They are reigning Foresters MVP Brandon Loy as well as three outstanding pitchers — Sam Stafford, Keifer Nuncio and Hoby Milner.
“If you can pitch at the University of Texas, you’re pretty good,” said Pintard.
