SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — The Arroyo Seco Saints (10-7) fought valiantly against the San Luis Obispo Blues (10-11) but eventually fell in 10 innings by way of a 10-9 final score at Sinsheimer Park on Tuesday night. 

To open the contest, sloppy defense and the inability to get off the field hindered the Saints’ ability to stay competitive in the early innings. Various fielding errors allowed the Blues to extend innings and put pressure on Saints starting pitcher Brady Nelson (Transfer Portal). 

The worst of the fielding woes came within the first two innings, hence the Blues’ early lead of 5-0. 

Nelson spoke about how the errors and longer innings impacted his mentality and approach on the mound. 

“I have to get the pitch count lower, [but] guys have to make the plays,” said the Saints starter. “[However, I know] the guys will score some runs, they were telling me they will get [the runs] back.” 

As the Saints’ offense has done for a great majority of the summer, they kept their promise; the Arroyo Seco bats exploded for seven runs in the next three innings. 

Blues starting pitcher Charlie Royle (Cal Poly) was cruising through his opening two frames, but a Gannon Snyder (Transfer Portal) sacrifice fly out and a Jax Ryan (Missouri State) RBI single condensed San Luis Obispo’s lead to 5-2 after three innings. 

Each team tallied one run in the fourth inning. Blues catcher Cam Andrews (Uncommitted) legged out an RBI triple, and Saints first baseman Levi Maddela (Transfer Portal) scored Joey Milto (Transfer Portal) thanks to an RBI groundout. The scoreboard read 6-3 Blues after four. 

The biggest inning of offensive output for the Saints came in the top of the fifth as they plated four runs and took the lead. Arroyo Seco pounced all over Blues relievers Hunter Hammond (Westmont College) and Charlie Feris (Stephen F. Austin). The massive scoring inning was highlighted by a JJ Kennett (Baylor) two-RBI single and another Maddela RBI single. 

Maddela has been swinging a hot bat as of late and spoke about his recent triumphs postgame. 

“I have been seeing the ball well,” mentioned the Saints first baseman. “One of my guys, Trotter [Enright], locked me in on something [that has allowed] me to see the ball better. On and off the field, [the team] helps each other, we see each other’s mistakes and go from there.” 

Unfortunately for the Saints, their lead did not last long as Nelson allowed two more Blues runs in the home half of the fifth. Despite allowing eight total runs, Nelson lasted a season-high five innings and added four strikeouts to his stat line. 

The sixth and seventh innings kept the scoreboard at 8-7 thanks to strong relief efforts from both teams. Specifically, Saints reliever Cody Turner (Lee University) had his strongest showing this summer on Tuesday night as he only allowed one hit through his three total innings of work. 

In the top half of the eighth inning, a highly contested matchup became even more tense as Snyder dug in for his fourth at-bat of the night. He did not let the pressure overcome him as he drove an RBI single to center field, scoring Maddela and knotting the score up at 8 runs apiece. 

Arroyo Seco was unable to scratch across a run for their side in the ninth, but Jordan Townley (Transfer Portal) shut down the Blues in the final frame to keep the game tied at 8-8 heading into the 10th inning. 

To open the 10th, Jonny Garber laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing Milto to third and setting the stage for Maddela. To almost no one’s surprise, Maddela came through and pounded a single to left field, scoring Milto and putting the Saints up 9-8. 

The Saints were unable to muster any more runs in their half of the tenth inning. Garrett McGuigan (Golden West College) took the mound for Arroyo Seco in the bottom of the tenth in hopes of recording a save and a fourth-straight Saints win. 

After a five-man infield and numerous anxious pitches, the Blues scored two much-needed runs as they walked off the Saints. The culminating play on Tuesday night was thanks to San Luis Obispo second baseman Diego Murillo (Uncommitted), as he knocked a single to center field, ending the game at 10-9. 

Despite a crushing loss in game one, the Saints remain optimistic in their approach to the final two games of the road trip. As Nelson said, the Saints are trying to get to 1-1 and, eventually, 2-1 in San Luis Obispo. 

As requested, the Saints will get their crack at 1-1 at 6:00 p.m. at Sinsheimer Park on Wednesday night. 

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Saints photographer Bella Calagna (Trinity College)