Kevin Gowdy turned in his third straight stellar pitching performance for Santa Barbara High and needed only one run to defeat Oxnard, 1-0, in a non-league baseball game on Tuesday.
Gowdy allowed four singles, struck out nine and walked two in six shutout innings. He threw seven shutout innings in his last outing against Ventura, a 10-inning loss by the Dons. Previously, he fired a one-hit shutout against Dos Pueblos.
Gowdy was locked in a duel with Oxnard’s Antonia Gaxiola (3 singles, 1 strikeout, two walks). The Dons scored off Gaxiola in the sixth inning. Bryce Morison led off with a walk, advanced to second on a single by John Jensen and moved to third when Goxiola’s pitch dribbled away from his catcher. Morison scored when Trevor Moropoulos hit a shot up the middle that was turned into a double play when shortstop Jose Rodarte stepped on second and fired to first.
“When we scored in the sixth, it seemed like the one run would be enough,” said Santa Barbara assistant coach Mike Cooney.
Dalton Schroeder relieved Gowdy in the seventh and retired the side in order to earn his fifth save of the season.
Santa Barbara improves to 15-11 while Oxnard falls to 21-4.
The Dons have a big two-game series with Buena next week to conclude Channel League play. The first game is Tuesday at Eddie Mathews Field.
