Falcons Force Extras Only to Fall Short to COS 9-5 in Conference Opener

The Falcons opened up conference play on Tuesday in Coalinga against the visiting Giants from College of Sequoias. Starter Dillon Moran ran into early trouble after giving two free passes followed by two singles and a sacrifice fly, putting the Falcons behind early 2-0. The Falcons offense answered right away as Adrian Flores reached on a single which was followed by another single by 3b Jake Lorenzini. Evan Walter delivered the big blow as he hit a two out 2 RBI double to left center to tie the score 2-2. In the 3rd, Moran gave up a leadoff triple followed by a walk and a RBI single. After a bunt moved runners to 2nd and 3rd, the Falcons turned to reliever Ryan O'Donnell who gave up a RBI single and then a ball lost in the sun by CF Adrian Flores brought in another run and put COS up 5-2. The Falcons were shutdown until the 5th where they got to starter Jacob Labogin. Scotty Ingle led off with a walk and Lorenzini singled to left, and both Andrew Bladt and Evan Walter drew walks bringing the Falcons within two runs. Labogin was replaced by reliever Mike Gonzalez who got Alante Uribe to ground out, which brought home Lorenzini. The inning ended with the score 5-4. 

The Giants were held scoreless by reliever Jacob Evangelo who threw 6 shutout innings, only allowing one hit while striking out five batters. The score held until the bottom of the 9th where Flores led off with a single to right. After a lineout and a fielder's choice brought Flores to 2nd with two outs, Evan Walter grinded out a ten pitch at bat and tied the game on a RBI single to center. The game headed to extra innings, and the Falcons turned to 2b Scotty Ingle to pitch. After pitching a scoreless 10th inning, the Giants finally got to Ingle as a hit by pitch and a fielding error on a bunt put runners on 1st and 2nd with Gabe Corona up to hit. Corona hit a RBI single to center putting the Giants up 6-5. The Giants tagged on three more runs pushing the score to 9-5. Giant's reliever Reid Feeley shut the Falcons down in the bottom of the 11th, as the Falcons fell to 0-1 in conference. The Falcons will head to Visalia on Thursday to face College of Sequoias at 2pm.