Big inning propels Volunteers to win at American Legion State Tournament
The Merced Volunteers used an eight-run fourth inning to break open their opening game against the Fairfield Expos at the American Legion State Tournament on Thursday morning.
The Volunteers defeated the Expos 12-2.
Merced pounded out 13 hits in a game that was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Jack Solis led the way, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and three RBIs. John Trujillo doubled twice and drove in four runs. Trujillo also started on the mound and pitched four innings to pick up the victory.
“The base hits started falling,” said Merced coach Rollo Adams, whose team has now won six games in a row to improve to 20-14 this summer. “We some big hits by players who should be delivering for us.”
The Volunteers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. R.J. Garcia and Kadon Floro led off the frame with back-to-back singles. One out later, Trujillo hit a two-run double to left-center field. Pete Minor followed with an RBI double to left to give the Volunteers a 3-0 lead.
“The team kind of relaxed after Trujillo got that two-run double,” Adams said. “We had a three-run lead and everyone felt ready to play.”
The Volunteers put the game away in the fourth inning, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs.
An error and a walk set up the big inning. Grant Deal followed with a single to load the bases with no outs. Joe Flores followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-1.
One out later, Solis cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the Volunteers a 7-1 lead.
Two consecutive walks reloaded the bases and Clayton Hall followed with a two-run double. Trujillo added another two-run double to give Merced an 11-1 lead.
Flores, Floro and Trujillo all had two hits for Merced.Trujillo gave up just one unearned run in four innings. He gave up two hits and three walks.
With the game ending after five innings because of the mercy rule the Volunteers were able to save extra innings for their pitchers, which could help later in the tournament.
“It gives us a chance to use Trujillo again on Saturday or Sunday,” Adams said. “We kept him under the pitch count that would have required him to have three days rest.”
The Volunteers will play Siskiyou on Friday at 3 p.m.
This story was originally published July 26, 2018 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Big inning propels Volunteers to win at American Legion State Tournament."