By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Stompers Infielder Tino Vasell (University of San Francisco) swings the bat Saturday at Arnold Field. Vasell went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run, as Sonoma completed a sweep and extended its win streak to seven consecutive games after securing a 7-2 victory against the Philippines Baseball Squad. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma Stompers completed a two-game sweep of the Philippines Baseball Group and extended its win streak to seven straight games Saturday after a 7-2 win at Arnold Field. Sonoma’s pitching held the Philippines to four hits and two runs.
Sonoma opened the scoring for the seventh straight contest. In the second inning, Stompers infielder Tino Vasell (University of San Francisco) hit a solo home run to right field, his fourth long ball and 24th RBI of the season.
Stompers manager Zack Pace said jumping out to early leads is “huge” and “helps” out the pitching staff.
“I feel like that didn’t happen at the beginning of the year,” Pace said. “We didn’t score first.”
Vasell finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs. The Pleasant Hill, Calif., native raises his batting average to .345 and his OPS to 1.105 in 109 plate appearances.
Pace said postgame Vasell has been “swinging the bat really well.”
During the fourth, Sonoma scored three runs to increase its lead to 6-0 after three RBI singles. Designated hitter/left-handed pitcher Taber Fast (Washington State) drove in the fourth run, Vasell tallied the fifth and catcher Gage McCown (Cal State Northridge) added the third run of the frame.
In his first start of the season, Stompers right-hander Micah Marquez (University of Jamestown) blanked the Philippines’ bats through the first four innings. Marquez collected three strikeouts and walked three in 56 pitches.
Pace said he liked that Marquez “locates” and “mixes speeds well” but didn’t want to see the three walks.
“I would like to see a little bit more quicker outs,” Pace said. “He did an outstanding job, but we could eliminate the free passes.”
The Philippines scored its only two runs in the eighth inning against Sonoma’s right-handed pitcher Keller Ausbun (Colorado State – Pueblo). Philippines catcher Isaiah Chaves hit an RBI double to put it on the board. The second was scored on an RBI groundout to first base.
Pace said he “still” has confidence in Ausbun moving forward even though he gets “hit quite often.”
“He’s reliable,” Pace said. “When he gets ahead, he’s alright for the most part ... except tonight.”
The Stompers finish the week Sunday at home against the San Francisco Seagulls, looking to add on to their win streak. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed on YouTube.