Falcons edge Modesto in series finale

After scoring 28 runs in two games against Modesto earlier in the week, the FLC baseball team managed just one run on three hits in Saturday's series finale at Modesto.  But the Falcons made the most of that one run as starter Shane Gustafson and three relievers shut out the Pirates to give the Falcons a 1-0 win.  The only run of the game came in the eighth inning when Anthony Mislinski's two-out single to left scored Aidan Malm from second base.  Staked with a one run lead, the Falcons' relievers were tasked with holding that lead.  Kennedy Zeinin wriggled out of a threat in the eighth before handing the ball over to Ricky Espinoza to open the ninth.  Espinoza induced a ground out but then issued a walk, prompting another pitching change.  Austin Beard took over and was immediately aided by catcher Jason Fackrell, who gunned down the Modesto base runner's attempted steal of second base for the second out of the inning.  Beard picked up the save when the Pirates' last batter popped up to third to end the game.

The win was the Falcons' sixth straight and ninth in their last ten games as they improved their Big 8 Conference record to 8-7.  They'll face Santa Rosa (10-4) this week, with Thursday's game at Falcon Field at 2:30 pm.