By Corey Kowk
(Rosemead) – St. Francis (1-1) built an early 7-0 lead, maintained it into the seventh, and withstood a late rally before prevailing 7-3 over Rosemead (0-1) Saturday for its first win of the season.
Starting pitcher Nickel Saavedra (1-0, 5 IP, 3 H, 3 K, 1 BB) pitched five shutout innings for St. Francis to earn the win.
The late Rosemead rally forced a save situation when first reliever Stanko Zovak wavered on four walks and one hit in straight succession that three runs later emerged out of, prompting a switch to Drew Nixon with the bases loaded and the tying run on deck.
Nixon gave up an RBI single to Matthew Campos (2/3, RBI, BB), but got the job done inducing two flyouts to third baseman John Bicos to earn a save. Nixon also batted 2/4 with a run.
Andres Kim (1/3, BB, SB, 2 RBI) and Bicos, each drew walks during the first before breezing in on a two out, two run double to the alley by Jason Ajamian (1/2, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB) to get it started for St. Francis.
The Golden Knights came out on fire in the second with four consecutive hits and an additional three runs as Nixon, Brandon Lewis (1/2, R, BB), and Adam Shwery (1/3, R) each laced singles.
Nixon scored on an infield error as a throw to Nab Shwery (who bunted for a single) glanced away, before Kim pummeled his first offering of that inning to dead center for a double to pick up both Lewis and Shwery. Jeremiah Martin pinch-ran in the fifth and stole two bases.
Ajamian led off the third with a walk and scored on a Mike Reilly double, while Bicos (1/3, R, RBI-3b, BB), in the fourth, rocked a triple to deep left field which picked up Kevin Baker (1/4, R, 2/2 SB) to round out the Golden Knights’ scoring.
Armani Garcia, Victor Maldonado, and Jonathan Chavez all walked and scored. Anthony Parra (0/2, 2 BB) drew an RBI walk, while Campos and Angel Lopez (2/4, RBI) had the RBI hits for Rosemead. Lopez pitched three shutout innings, walking two and allowing one hit, while Parra (0-1) took the loss with a rough four inning start.
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