Royals win 2-of-3 to start Best of the West

San Marcos has two wins to its credit after the first two days of the Best of the West Tournament in Santa Maria, with play continuing on Wednesday.

The Royals defeated St. Bonaventure 3-2 on Monday, followed by an 8-1 victory over Santa Maria in their first game on Tuesday. Pioneer Valley tagged San Marcos with its first loss of the tournament in an 8-2 contest later on Tuesday.

Kristen Berlo recorded 16 and 11 strikeouts in the two victories. The junior pitcher allowed Santa Maria just one hit.

In the loss, the Royals were undone by a six-run sixth inning by Pioneer Valley that broke open a tie game.

Against St. Bonaventure, Angel Mermis came through with a clutch three-run triple in the bottom of the 7th inning. Mermis’ game-winning hit came with the bases loaded and drove in the Royals’ only runs of the day.

LINE SCORES

GAME 1: San Marcos 3, St. Bonaventure 2

St Bonaventure – 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 – 2  5  2

San Marcos         – 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 – 3  5  2

Berlo & Flattery; Flinn & Inglis

2B – SM: Flattery  3B – SM: Mermis  HR – SB: Emery

GAME 2: San Marcos 8, Santa Maria 1

San Marcos  1 0 0 4 0 0 3 – 8  9  2

Santa Maria 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 1  1  1

San Marcos: Berlo & Flattery  Santa Maria: Roy-Gasper & Lewis

2B – San Marcos: Dietz  3B – San Marcos: Berlo

GAME 3: Pioneer Valley 8, San Marcos 2

San Marcos       0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 2  5  1

Pioneer Valley 0 0 1 0 1 6 x – 8 11 0

SM: Berlo & Flattery  PV: Fernandez & Hoobery

3B – SM: Berlo, Swann