QUINCY, Calif. – The Shasta College baseball team rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Feather River College 5-4 on Saturday to split the Golden Valley Conference series on the weekend.
The Knights lost 13-7 on Friday despite scoring six runs in the first four innings. Shasta (8-7 GVC, 13-17) lost the season series to Feather River 3-2, dropping two of three on Feb. 23-24.
In Saturday's victory, Shawn Florence drove in two runs on a single in the seventh inning and Marshell Struble plated the go-ahead run on a pinch-hit two-run double in the eighth. Kolby Button picked up the win in relief to move to 4-1 on the season. The freshman struck out three and allowed one hit in three scoreless innings of work.
Anthony Becerra took a no decision after putting up a quality start for the Knights. He struck out five, walked one and allowed four runs – three earned – on seven hits in six innings.
Florence drove in five RBIs across the two games with two Saturday as part of his 2 for 5 day. Easton Waterman, Daniel Duarte and Austin Healy each had two hits in the win while Jerred Bloom drove in a run.
Max Holtzclaw took the loss Friday in relief. He gave up three unearned runs on four hits in 2.2 innings. Shasta starter Sam Wells surrendered six earned runs on eight hits across the first 3.1 frames. Florence was 1 for 4 with three RBIs, Eric Spencer was 2 for 4 with a two-run double and a run, Hunter Rasica was 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and a run, and Duarte, Payton Edwards, and Bloom each had a hit and scored a run.
Feather River used four pitchers on the day, each going at least two innings, combining for nine strikeouts and three walks. Shane Kelso got the win and Sam Gamboa was credited with a three-inning save for his fourth of the season.
With a month left to go in the season, Waterman leads the Knights with 29 hits, 11 doubles and 14 RBIs. His 11 doubles rank third in the GVC. Healy has team highs in runs (21), triples (2) and stolen bases (6), and Jakob Weiser has drawn a team-best 18 walks.
In batting average, Brandon Anderson leads the way with a .314 mark (16 for 51), followed by Duarte's .308 (24 for 78) – minimum 30 at bats. Bloom's .426 on-base percentage is a team-high.
For pitching, Holtzclaw (2-2, 2 saves) is third in the GVC with a 1.95 ERA across 32.1 innings. Wells (5-4) is second in the GVC in innings pitched (59.1), third in wins, Beccera (2-4) is third in the GVC in strikeouts (45), and Button (4-1) is sixth in ERA with a 2.81 in 41.2 innings.
Shasta plays at Siskiyous Friday and Saturday, needing one win to take the season series.
GVC Standings
#13 Butte 10-4, 17-11
#12 Feather River 9-4, 19-9
Lassen 8-6, 14-15
Shasta 8-7, 13-17
Redwoods 5-10, 11-18
Siskiyous 3-12, 10-15