Pitching and defensive errors help Cosumnes River best Merced

Pitching and defense have long been the pillars on which the Merced College baseball program has been built.

That hasn't been the case early on this season, however.

Blue Devils starting pitchers have been lit up, particularly in early innings, and the defense has committed fewer than two errors only once in the team's first six games. MC's pitching and defensive woes continued on Monday afternoon.

Head coach Chris Pedretti finally got the start he was looking for, as Brent Backlund limited the damage in a couple error-assisted innings early. The MC offense couldn't help pick the sophomore up, however, as Cosumnes River swept the season series with a 4-2 victory at Blue Devil Field.

"Obviously we have some things we need to clean up defensively," Pedretti said. "We haven't been very happy with our starting pitching, but there's been signs that's starting to come around. Now we need the defense to do its part.

"We've got a lot of young guys out there and they're going to get adjusted to the speed of the game, but those little plays are costing us ballgames right now."

MC's inability to do the little things opened the door for Cosumnes River in the first inning.

Backlund should have had a 1-2-3 inning, but a one-out throwing error put a runner in scoring position for the Hawks (4-0). Cosumnes River took full advantage, driving in the game's opening run with consecutive two-out singles.

The Hawks got right back after it with consecutive singles to open the second. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, and a fielding error on what should have been an RBI groundout extended the inning.

Backlund pitched his way out of the jam, however, and settled in after that. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two hits the rest of the way, striking out six in six complete innings.

"The thing you have to remember as a pitcher is that just because your defense makes an error, doesn't mean the run will score," Backlund said. "You still have a say in what happens. I did my best to limit the damage and I think we all found a rhythm after that."

Phil Parga singled in a run to cut the lead in half, but the MC offense struggled to string hits together. The Blue Devils (2-4) had runners on base in each of the first eight innings, but stranded 10 and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

Tyler Blake put the game away with a two-run homer off reliever Thomas Longworth in the top of the seventh.

Kasey Chapan tossed a perfect ninth for the save.