ORANGE — After hitting into four double plays in the first five innings, the Santa Barbara Foresters’ offense came to life in the top of the ninth Wednesday at Hart Park against the Orange County Pioneers. In the end, Santa Barbara left the tying run in scoring position and fell 5-4 in the second game of the California Collegiate League series.
TJ McGreevy pitched two perfect innings of relief in the fifth and sixth while Jeff McVaney scored twice and leadoff man Jeff McNeil reached base all four times at bat. Two errors behind starter Matt Vedo in the third, however, helped the Pioneers to take a 3-0 lead in the third which they would not relinquish.
The Foresters left five runners in scoring position in the game, but despite the loss remain in first place in the CCL at 12-3, 8-3. The Pioneers, in their first season in the league, moved above .500 and sit at 8-7 overall and in conference play.
The rubber match of the series is set for 5 p.m. Thursday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. All games are broadcast on AM 990 and www.sbforesters.org.
