Late run leads Arroyo Grande baseball past Paso Robles

It looked like a repeat of Arroyo Grande’s 4-0 loss to Paso Robles on Tuesday when the Eagles took the field on Friday night at Barnhart Field. The Eagles started the first inning by giving up two hits, an error and a run.

But Arroyo Grande starting pitcher Jake Shusterich was lights out after that, striking out eight Paso Robles batters and Arroyo Grande played small ball on the way to a 2-1 win.

“After the first I got settled in and started throwing strikes and let my teammates get the outs,” said Shusterich, a 6-foot-2 righty. “I have faith in my defense and they pulled through.”

An RBI by Arroyo Grande’s Joey De La Rosa in the top of the third inning evened the score at 1-1. After that, Shusterich and Paso Robles lefty Nolan Binkele traded blows and kept the game scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when the back of the order got things going for Arroyo Grande.

Consecutive hits by Mason Alex, Brayden Pinkerton set up Kale Varvel whose second hit of the game loaded the bases for center fielder Nolan Elias. The big senior, who had two strike outs earlier in the game, came through with a perfect bunt down the first base line to score pinch-runner Alex Cecchi from third base for the go-ahead run.

“He was a little amped up on his first swing so I was afraid he was going to pop it up in the infield or something like that,” Lachemann said of the bunt call. “I know he’s an outstanding bunter...so I thought we had a better chance of scoring, especially with Cecchi and his speed on third.”

Shusterich struck out two batters in the bottom of the inning to finish the complete game.

“He throws strikes so the defense is always ready for something to happen,” Lachemann said. “It makes it really easy to play defense behind him.”

With a 10-1 win on Wednesday to go along with Friday’s win, Arroyo Grande (5-2, 2-1 PAC 8) moved into the fourth spot in the PAC 8, one game behind 3-0 San Luis Obispo.

“This one is going to carry is through the season I’m sure,” Shusterich said.

After a trip to the Do Lugo Tournament down south, Arroyo Grande resumes league play with a three-game series against Righetti beginning on April 5. Paso Robles will play in the Righetti Spring Classic before playing a series with San Luis Obispo, also on April 5.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 10:38 PM with the headline "Late run leads Arroyo Grande baseball past Paso Robles."