By ALEC NOLAN
Gary Cornish improved his record to 3-1, as the Foresters beat the South Coast Saints, 4-1, in a nonconference baseball game at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Friday.
Cornish allowed four hits and one run in five innings of work.
Ryan Chandler got the offense going early for Santa Barbara, belting a triple into the left-center field gap. With Grant Davis up at the plate, Saints pitcher Fernando Gallegos was charged with a balk, allowing Chandler to come home for the first run.
Chandler later drove in a run and made an incredible leaping catch in center to help the defense.
“It’s nice to be back in this weather playing in front of the home crowd after a long road trip” said Chandler. “Obviously, getting a win is always great but the main goal is to head back to (the NBC World Series in) Wichita, and I’m excited to try and repeat as champions.”
Santa Barbara struck again in the bottom of fourth to make it 2-0 as Matt Henderson lined a single to bring home Granger Studdard.
In the fifth, Michael Smith led off with a single past diving second baseman Kyle Henmi. Smith later reached third on a throwing error from Saints catcher Aaron Vilaubi and scored on a sacrifice fly from Chandler.
South Coast scored its only run in the top of the sixth on Bryce Peterson’s single that drove in Tyler Smith. Cornish was relieved by UC Irvine lefty Elliot Surrey and he pitched out of the jam to keep the score at 3-1.
The Foresters scored one last time in the bottom of the seventh when Michael Smith led off with a walk and scored on a single up the middle by Lex Kaplan.
Troy Cruz closed things out in the ninth for Santa Barbara to get the save.
The Foresters improve their overall record to 12-2.
