Petrilla's homer dooms ARC as Falcons open Big 8 schedule with win

Through their first 15 games of 2022, the Folsom Lake baseball team scored an average of more that 10 runs per game and never scored fewer than five runs in a game.  On Tuesday afternoon at 'the Lake,' the Falcons were held to just 2 runs on seven hits yet managed to win their Big 8 Conference opener over visiting American River, 2-1.  The Falcons relied on an ever-improving pitching staff and produced just enough offense to get the win.  Freshman righthander Carter Delaney drew the start and made the most of it with five innings of 4-hit ball.  He struck out six and allowed just one walk while not giving up an earned run.  Freshman Ryan ward came on in the sixth inning and was lierally perfect for three innings: no runs, nohits, no walks, and six strikeouts.  Closer Cole Tremain earned his fifth save with a perfect ninth inning.

While the Falcons only mustered seven hits in the game, Bryce Petrilla's 6th inning two-run home run was all they needed.  The Falcons had trailed ever since the Beavers scored an unearned run in the first inning, but had managed to put at least one runner on in four of the first five innings only to leave them stranded.  After Logan Sutter drew a one-out walk in the sixth, Petrilla made the most of his chance and gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.  The homer was his third of the season and tied him for the team lead with Drake Digiorno and Logan Sutter.  

The win was the Falcons' sixth straight and their 14th straight game without a loss (they tied on Feb. 23 due to darkness).  They'll play at ARC (9-9 overall, 1-3 in Big 8) on Thursday before closing the series against the Beavers on Saturday at FLC.