American River College’s baseball team defeated Shasta College at home Wednesday 9-1, achieving its first win of the season as the team scored five of its nine runs unearned and paced by six scoreless innings and two hits allowed from starting pitcher Matt Gunter.
Gunter set the tone early for ARC on the mound, striking out the side in the first inning.
ARC scored two early runs in the bottom of the first, as one run scored on a double play ball and a second came in following a double to center field designated hitter Kirby Broadbent to make it 2-0 ARC.
Gunter allowed two walks through the first four innings, but Shasta did not manage a hit in the game until a soft line drive fell in right field hit by third baseman Jake Mekeel.
By the time of Mekeel’s single, ARC had extended its lead to 4-0. Gunter, however, loaded the bases following Mekeel, as first baseman Kody Corbell singled to fill the diamond with nobody out.
Designated hitter Zach Cahill grounded to first, and ARC first baseman Colton Freeman threw straight for the plate upon fielding the ball, nailing the runner for the first out.
Shasta’s runner on third, Zack Trueblood, was called for interference as he ran into the catcher sliding at home plate, also causing Cahill to be called out for a double play.
Gunter walked the next batter to load the bases again, but escaped the jam unharmed following a called strikeout on left fielder Avery Foltz.
Shasta’s offensive woes were prevalent from the start, but the game turned into a blowout in the bottom half of the seventh, as Shasta committed two field errors and three wild pitches, leading to ARC scoring five runs in the inning, all unearned.
Shasta reliever Mahlon Cleveland was injured on a scoring play in which catcher Trueblood let the ball go to the backstop.
ARC left fielder Jimmy Lunardelli extended the lead to 8-0 with a two-run triple to left center field, and ARC would score its final run on the second wild pitch, allowing Lunardelli to scamper home from third base.
ARC finished the game with 12 hits, while Shasta struggled mightily in reaching three for the game.
Christian Savage, Kyle Grant, and Kyle Beardsley each pitched an inning in relief of Gunter, with Beardsley allowing Shasta’s only run of the game in the top of the ninth.
Shasta starter Colten Landreth allowed four runs,one unearned, in five innings pitched, while Shasta relievers combined to allow five unearned runs.
The game ended on a groundout to short by Cahill, giving ARC its first win of the season in a game that was rescheduled to a day earlier due to potential incoming weather over the weekend.
ARC head coach Doug Jumelet declined to comment on the game, and did not make players available for interviews.
