Strikeouts and the Sixth: ‘Sters Blow Out Indians

The Santa Barbara Foresters' pitching staff carved the Santa Maria Indians for 15 strikeouts in a dominant 14-2 victory, beating them for the second time this season. Beyond this, an explosive six-run sixth inning was all the offense needed, as they recorded five hits and five RBIs to sink the Indians.

It was Santa Barbara who jumped out to an early lead, scoring in a very lax manner. Easton Moomau was plunked to start the first and eventually found his way to third, before a first-and-third situation produced an error on the throw down to second that let Moomau score.

While Foresters starter Henry Prindl cruised in his outing, he ran into a slight speed bump in the third, as the Indians tied the game. Four total hits in the inning, the majority of them being softly hit, brought home the Indians' first of the game.

It was a rinse-and-repeat affair for Prindl the rest of the way. Other than the third, Pridnl only saw two runners reach base, both via walks, and he struck out nine in his five innings of work.

The 'Sters thanked Prindl's great effort by putting him in line for the win, re-taking the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Aidan Camberg hustled his way to a single, advancing to second on a wild pitch, paving the way for consecutive RBI singles from Moomau and Cole Chamberlain to give Santa Barbara a two-run cushion.

Carter Speights was greeted with a single and an RBI triple after he took over in the sixth, bringing Santa Maria within a run. Their hopes quickly faded, however, as the Foresters blew the game open in their half, tacking on six to give them the largest lead of the game. Makani Nabarro gave the spark with a leadoff double, and was followed up by RBIs from Camberg, Caleb Hoover, Luke Cornelison, Wylan Nelson, and Josh Woodworth.

Grady Westphal took over on the bump, fooling two Santa Maria batters in his first inning of work, bringing the team's total to 11 on the evening.

Jack Fowler, regularly a pitcher, got at-bats in this one and was the one to put Santa Barbara in double digits when he drove in Donovan Lasalle via sacrifice fly.

For the 20th time this season, Santa Barbara sent one out of the yard in the eighth, extending the lead to 12, and doing so in grand fashion, with Nabarro getting his first of the year, adding four RBIs to his total.

Westphal worked through the ninth, adding another three strikeouts and picking up his first save as a result of his three innings.

The Foresters finish out the season this weekend at home with back-to-back games against the San Luis Obispo Blues. Catch all the action on the Foresters YouTube channel or at Eddie Mathews Field.