Eliana's Writing

Sierra started off strong, but after an error-riddled game, the Beavers cinched an exciting 9-7 win to close out the series

The American River College baseball team got a win at home in the finale and deciding game of a three-game series against Sierra College on Feb. 27 with a final score of 9-7.

Sierra won the first game of the series in a 0-5 shutout, but the Beavers tied the series by winning the second game 10-9 in the tenth inning. 

Sierra pulled ahead with three runs in the first inning, with two of those counting as unearned. ARC started scoring in the second inning but got ahead with a whopping five runs in the third.

After a double by shortstop Bryce Sabatke, Brandon Pelechowicz singled and stole second base. Sabatke and Pelechowicz both scored off a hit by Dylan Westbrook, and the runs didn’t stop there. 

A combination of hits from the Beavers and errors from the Wolverines led to a total of three unearned runs, bringing the score to 6-3 by the end of the third inning. 

“We felt great. We picked up a lot of momentum, the pitchers did their thing,” Pelechowicz said after the game, “We kept hitting, we didn’t slow down during the middle of the innings, we got their dugout quiet.”

For the rest of the game, Sierra struggled to close the gap as both teams continued to score runs. Errors by Sierra’s defense and a total of four double plays by ARC’s defense made it difficult for them to pull ahead. 

They tightened the score to 8-7 in the seventh inning, only for ARC to reestablish their lead with an additional two runs in the bottom of the eighth. 

Beavers defense came in clutch towards the end of the game as second baseman Lance Sabatke dove to catch a line drive and threw out a runner stealing at second base for an unassisted double play. The Beavers won with a final score of 9-7 in the ninth inning.

“It’s a big win, we haven’t beat Sierra in a series in years, so it’s good to finally beat them and just put us back on the map,” Sabatke said after the game.

The Beavers are now on their bye week from the Big 8 Conference. 

Next, they will play Porterville College from the Central Valley Conference on Tuesday at home and Thursday in Porterville. 

Check out the men’s varsity baseball schedule and get tickets to games here.