Saint walk it off in chaotic, season-defining thriller against the Barons

PASADENA, CA—The game was eerily similar to multiple Saints losses this season. The Saints took an early lead, and strong starting pitching helped protect it into the late innings. Then, in the late innings, their bullpen blew the lead, and the Saints trailed in the ninth. Saints fans and players had seen this story before.

Fortunately for the Arroyo Seco Saints (11-16) and their fans, they overcame late adversity, courtesy of a game-tying two-run triple by Carson Panarisi (California State University, Los Angeles) and a walk-off sacrifice fly by Brayden Flores (Loyola Marymount University). The comeback gave the Saints a massive win against the Academy Barons (14-12) in extras, cutting their distance from a playoff spot to three and a half games.

To say Tuesday's game was a wild one would be an understatement, with 12 runs scored after the sixth inning, including two separate multi-run comebacks before the Flores sacrifice fly won the game in the tenth.

Starter Edwin Segovia (Azusa Pacific University) threw five solid innings, allowing only two runs and preserving the Saints' early lead into the second half of the game. The lead began in the second inning with a home run by Canon King (University of California, San Diego), his league-leading fifth of the season. A Brody Chyr (University of Nebraska) RBI triple later in the second inning and Sean Asperger's (Undecided) RBI double in the fifth gave the Saints a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning. 

Segovia continued a recent trend for the Saints: quality starting pitching. In their last five games, a stretch in which the Saints are 4-1, each starter has gone at least five innings, with an ERA under four to back it up.

"It's more of a mindset thing. Get ahead early and land first strikes," Segovia said. "Winning these games in the latter half of the season is huge for us."

Then, the Saints suddenly trailed by two after the Barons scored three unearned runs. The offense could've struggled to get back in the game, but instead, they wouldn't go down without a fight. In the bottom of the eighth, Cam Andrews (California Baptist University) hit a two-run, game-tying triple to left field, his biggest hit as a Saint. 

The game then moved into the ninth, where the Barons would retake the lead, scoring three runs against the Saints' bullpen. At that point, the Saints' offense could've collapsed easily, but it didn't. After two straight walks to start the inning, the Saints scored a run via a Jacob Freer (Undecided) sacrifice fly and, down to their final out, sent Carson Panarisi (California State Los Angeles) to the plate.

Panarisi proceeded to obliterate a 100-mph ball off the bat to left field, which got past the left fielder and tied the game. Asperger scored from first base, and Panarisi arrived at third on a triple — brand-new ballgame. 

Although the Saints were unable to cash in Panarisi from third, Tyler Hawkins (school) entered in the tenth inning and pitched a scoreless frame, stranding the ghost runner on second and giving the Saints another chance at a walk-off. 

Flores took that opportunity to heart. After a Dylan Immel (Undecided) leadoff infield single to open the 10th frame, Flores flew a ball to right field deep enough to force an errant throw from the left fielder, scoring ghost runner Chyr. The Saints pulled off a thrilling victory, coming from behind twice to take down the Barons.

"You know it's just believing in yourself and trusting in yourself," Flores said. "Knowing you've got good bat-to-ball and just putting the bat on the ball."

Flores has consistently been one of the team leaders for the Saints, and after an uncharacteristically bad start to the homestand, he immediately made amends through his walk-off sacrifice fly.

Throughout the game, the Saints crowd and press box were in full force, with their rally caps out — and even a new mascot, a plastic grapefruit, an item with which the team is now 4-1 when held at the game.

The Saints now enter their last nine games of the season 3.5 games behind the Barons for the final playoff spot in the CCL Southern Division, keeping themselves in the hunt with their big win today.

Arroyo Seco will look to continue to gain ground in the playoff race as it faces the Conejo Oaks on Thursday at Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. The first pitch is at 5:35 PM PDT, as the Saints hope to make it five wins in six games.

Contributors:

• Saints Reporter: Joshua Krueger (Baylor University)

• Saints Photographer: Aaliyah Alamillo (University of La Verne)