By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Stompers outfielder Chase Taylor (University of Connecticut) connects with the ball after swinging Thursday at Arnold Field. Taylor went 1-for-4 with two RBIs in Sonoma’s 9-2 win over the Santa Maria Indians. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma Stompers snapped their two-game losing streak, scoring three runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to blow open the contest and secure a 9-2 victory Thursday over the Santa Maria Indians at Arnold Field.
Sonoma tallied only five hits but drew eight walks and stole four bases — including infielder Misael Uriepero (Youngstown State) stealing home in the fourth inning — to improve to 11-13 in California Collegiate League North play while the Indians fell to 1-4. Sonoma remains in third place despite both the Menlo Park Legends and Alameda Merchants winning Thursday.
After getting back into the win column, Stompers manager Zack Pace said jokingly after the game that “it felt like I could breathe again.”
Despite falling short, the Indians opened the scoring in the second inning. With the bases loaded, infielder Rocco Muccilli lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.
Stompers right-handed pitcher Ken Blankenship (Benedictine University – Mesa) made his first start of the season but allowed four hits and one earned run in two innings. After Blankenship exited, sixStompers relievers held the Indians offense to one hit and one run over the final seven innings.
Pace said he “liked” what he saw from Sonoma’s bullpen “other than the nine free passes.”
“We had way too many [free passes]. We got to be five or under, to be honest,” Pace said. “That gives other teams chances ... We got to see a lot of arms fill up the zone and get outs.”
In the bottom of the third, Sonoma broke through with three runs. Infielder Hunter Carlson (Georgia State) added his 25th RBI of the season — the most RBIs in the CCL — on a single up the middle. On the next pitch, infielder Mateo Heredia (Cal State Northridge) hit his first home run of the year over the left field wall.
In the fourth inning, Uriepero stole home, diving below the tag of the Indians catcher to give Sonoma a 4-1 lead. Taylor drove home the fifth run for the Stompers with an RBI groundout.
Pace said Uriepero’s steal “fired him up” and that it was “awesome to see.”
“I didn’t see it coming. I don’t know if anyone did,” Pace said. “I thought it was awesome because we’ve had trouble getting those runners in from third. It sparked a little something; it got something going.”
The Stompers continued to extend their lead in the seventh inning. Outfielder Wesley Bass (Georgia State) hit his first extra-base hit of the season, a solo home run, to make it 6-1 Sonoma. Later in the frame, catcher Angel Garcia (Coppin State) drew a bases-loaded walk to extend Sonoma’s lead.
Pace said Bass and Heredia’s home run swings were “great.”
“They were both good swings,” Pace said. “I didn’t really like Heredia’s pimp job though; I let him know about that. Other than that, it was good.”
Sonoma put up two more runs in the eighth inning to blow the game open. Taylor hit an RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch.
Overall, Pace was pleased that his guys “cashed in” during moments they hadn’t in losses.
“I thought the guys did a good job of taking advantage of what they gave us,” Pace said. “Obviously we only had five hits ... we need to keep grinding away at that.”
The Stompers finish their two-game home series against the Santa Maria Indians on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on YouTube.