With their undefeated league record on the line, Temecula Valley (5-1 in league) stayed in it until the end, but Murrieta Valley pulled away late in a 3-2 victory Tuesday, March 22. The game was tied at two with the Nighthawks batting in the top of the ninth when Colin McNeill singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run.
Murrieta Valley (2-5 in league) got things started in the first inning when an error scored one run, but it was not until the bottom of the seventh inning when things got exciting. Temecula Valley tied things up at two when senior Chris Paciolla singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.
The pitching was strong on both sides for the most part. Murrieta Valley pitchers struck out five, while Temecula Valley sat down 14. Charlie Combs started the game for TV; he went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five. Aidan Lambert started the game for MV and lasted five and a third innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out four.
Ayden Tauscher picked up the win for the Nighthawks after coming in and only allowing two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out one and walking zero. Lyndon Glidewell-Matrafailo threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Harrison Bodendorf took the loss for the Golden Bears. Bodendorf surrendered one run on two hits over four innings, striking out nine.
Temecula Valley had six hits in the game. Cody Liscio and Grant Yzermans all collected multiple hits for the Golden Bears. Yzermans and Liscio both had two hits to lead Temecula Valley. Murrieta Valley was led by Colin McNeill, who had two RBIs on the day, with one hit. Other contributing Nighthawks included Jacob Adams, Aidan Lambert and Jordan Treadwell, who all scored runs in the game.
Murrieta Valley will have the week off from Southwestern League games due to Spring Break but will face Canyon Springs in a nonleague bout before the weekend. Temecula Valley took on Chaparral this week, which was be a game that caught them both up in the standings. Earlier this season the Golden Bears had a game with Mater Dei when all other league teams were playing against each other, which put both them and Chaparral one game behind everyone else. Chaparral won this week’s game 9-5.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
