It was a tough day for Santa Barbara Forester pitchers, as Mitch Mormann and Jason Hursh gave up seven runs in the first three innings in a 10-4 loss to the San Luis Obispo Blues in a California Collegiate League baseball game at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Friday.
It was the second straight loss for the Foresters (9-2) after nine straight wins to start the season. They are now tied for first place in the CCL with the Blues at 5-2.
Mormann, a right-hander from Wichita State who had two wins before Friday’s game, started for the Foresters and struggled early. After throwing two wild pitches to allow the Blues’ runners to advance, he fielded a ground ball and threw out first baseman Zac Elgie at home plate. But the seemingly routine play ended in disaster for the Foresters, as catcher Andrew Stumph’s attempt to get a double play at first base sailed into right outfield, allowing two runs to score. Blues’ shortstop Chad Christensen drove in a third run on a ground ball.
Nick Melino of the Foresters takes a swing in the third inning.
“The first inning I was a little wild, and I got frustrated,” Mormann said. “It was a bad outing I will just have to flush out.”
Mormann was pulled after just two innings in favor of Oklahoma State right-hander Hursh. He forced Blues’ DH Wade Hinkle into a double play, but left-fielder Sal Belfonte scored on the play.
Hursh then worked himself into a jam by allowing two singles and hitting Blues catcher Thomas Bernal to load the bases. He walked in a run and gave up two-run single to Christensen.
Hursh was pulled after the third inning with the Foresters down 7-0.
“They put it on us tonight,” Foresters head coach Bill Pintard said of his opponents. “Hursh threw some good pitches and they hit them. They’re not a bad club.”
Santa Barbara responded in the fourth inning after third baseman Derek Legg struck out but reached first base due to a dropped third strike by Bernal. Legg was brought home by second baseman Michael Ratterree and Joe Wallace drove in a second run to narrow the lead to 7-2.
Ian McCarthy, a right-hander out of Oklahoma State, and Spencer Messmore, a right-hander from Cal State Bakersfield, each pitched three solid innings for the Foresters, but Santa Barbara was unable to overcome the early deficit.
“We did not pitch well and we did not have great game awareness,” Pintard said. “We’re going to get here early tomorrow and get some extra work in.”
The Foresters and the Blues will face off again Saturday at 5 p.m. at Cesar Uyesaka Stadium. Left-hander Albert Minnis (Wichita State) will take the mound for the Foresters.
The game will be broadcast on AM 990 and sbforesters.org.
Who is the pitching coach for the Foresters? Yoke? Pintard?