REDDING, Calif. – Shasta College couldn't keep its momentum going from a three-game winning streak, losing a Golden Valley Conference series to NorCal No. 13 Butte College last week.
The Knights split in the doubleheader on Sunday, losing 10-0 in seven innings and then winning 6-2 in the nightcap. But Butte got the best of Shasta 5-3 on Monday to win the series.
Butte 10, Shasta 0 – 7 innings
The Knights only mustered three hits against Ben Elder (7-1), who threw a shortened three-hit complete-game shutout. Elder struck out seven and walked three.
Shasta's only three hits came from Brandon Anderson, Eric Spencer and Payton Edwards, who hit a double. Daniel Duarte had a stolen base.
Sam Wells (5-4) took the loss for the Knights. He gave up nine runs – eight earned – on nine hits in 4.2 innings.
Shasta 6, Butte 2
Anthony Becerra picked up his second win of the season, allowing one earned run on four hits across eight innings. The sophomore also struck out eight and walked two to move to 2-4 on the season. Max Holtzclaw struck out the side in the ninth.
The Knights pulled away with a three-run fifth inning, highlighted by Shawn Florence's sacrifice fly and RBI singles from Edwards and Duarte. Austin Healy went 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs, Anderson went 2 for 4 with two runs, and Easton Waterman had an RBI double.
Butte's Raul Rodriguez took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in six innings.
Butte 5, Shasta 3
The Roadrunners scored twice in the top of the ninth to top the Knights in Redding on Monday. Holtzclaw got the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in the final 4.2 innings of relief. Shasta starter Kolby Button struck out four, walked two, and allowed three runs on two hits in 4.1 innings.
The top three batters for the Knights were a combined 7 for 14 on the day with Anderson adding two singles and an RBI, Florence going 3 for 5 with an RBI and Edwards going 2 for 4. Spencer had an RBI while Jerred Bloom, Waterman and Hunter Rasica each scored a run.
Butte's Charles Munns scattered five hits across seven shutout innings and struck out four.
Shasta (12-16, 7-6 GVC) continues GVC play Friday and Saturday on the road in Quincy against Feather River College.