By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Stompers right-handed pitcher Riley Dickey (Modesto Junior College) throws the ball from the mound at Arnold Field on Sunday. Sonoma defeated the Alameda Merchants 7-4 behind a six-run sixth inning. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma Stompers scored six-runs in the sixth inning Sunday, powering them to a 7-4 victory over the Alameda Merchants at Arnold Field. Sonoma rebounded after a 10-4 loss Saturday at the hands of the Walnut Creek Crawdads.
The Stompers improved to 10-11 in the California Collegiate League North while the Merchants fell to 7-10 in division play. Sonoma currently sits in third place of the CCL North but are 7.5 games behind the first place San Luis Obispo Blues.
Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame there will be “ups and downs” over the course of the 45-game regular season, but thought his team played “pretty good tonight.”
“Other than the nine free passes, seven walks and two hit-by-pitches, we gave up one hit until the eighth inning,” Pace said. “We got the big inning ... teams win when they have the big inning. We were on the other side of that a lot this week.”
For the third consecutive contest, the Stompers struck first. Sonoma opened the scoring in the first inning on a four pitch, bases-loaded walk by infielder Misael Uriepero (Youngstown State).
In his first start after seven relief appearances early in the season, right-handed pitcher Keller Ausbun (Colorado State – Pueblo) pitched two scoreless innings to set the tone for the Stompers.
In the third inning, right-handed pitcher Shawn McBroom (Cal State San Marcos) — making his first relief appearance of the year after two starts — struggled with his command. In one inning of work, the Antioch, Calif., native gave up three runs and walked two with two hit-by-pitches.
Stompers infielder Mateo Heredia (Cal State Northridge) committed his second error of the season at third base, leading to the first two Merchants runs.
Pace said McBroom “can” be a starter moving forward, especially in the “last three weeks of the season” despite his recent struggles.
“After that [the all-star break] I think he will have a chance,” Pace said. “But I’m going to go with my best guys and see what happens. If he’s throwing well enough to start, we’ll get him in there.”
Despite outhitting the Merchants 4-1, Sonoma still trailed 3-1 heading to the sixth inning. The Stompers walked seven batters and allowed two hit-by-pitches, leading to the Merchants runs.
In the bottom of the inning, Sonoma’s offense exploded for six runs to take a commanding 7-3 lead, sending 10 batters to the plate in the frame.
The rally was started by outfielder Wesley Bass (Georgia State), who collected a one-out single and then stole second. After three straight walks, outfielder Nic Sebastiani delivered with an RBI single to tie the contest.
Pace said the approach and base running was what led to the big inning.
“The three walks were great," Pace said. "You can kind of play station to station. That’s how you have the big inning.”
The CCL’s RBI leader, infielder Hunter Carlson (Georgia State) gave Sonoma the advantage with a two-run single that ricochetted off the pitcher and into right-field. The Hudson, Wisconsin, native collected RBIs 23 and 24. Carlson is batting .306 with a .985 OPS in 81 plate appearances.
Sonoma added two more runs. Outfielder Mike Jones (University of San Francisco) hit an RBI groundout before Heredia scored Carlson from second on a single to second base.
Pace said the small ball was “working” when “they didn’t intend to play small ball,” which led to the rally.
The Merchants responded with one run in the eighth inning but couldn’t complete the comeback. Sonoma right-handed pitcher Riley Dickey (Modesto Junior College) collected his first save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning
The Stompers have a day off Monday before starting a two-game series against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. The first contest will be Tuesday at home with first pitch at 6:05 p.m. The game will be live streamed on YouTube.