San Marcos hands Santa Barbara first Channel League loss

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The third time was the charm for San Marcos as they finally beat Santa Barbara to tighten up the Channel League baseball race.

San Marcos scored 6 runs in the second inning and Chase Hoover pitched five scoreless innings as the Royals won 6-0.

For Santa Barbara it was their first loss in 9 league games this year while the Royals improved to 7-2 in league.

Nathaniel Lynk roped a two-run single to right to start the scoring for the Royals.

Aiden Johnson brought in the third run with a sacrifice fly and Joaquin Sandoval plated Lynk with a run-scoring single to left to make it 4-0.

Emmett Speake laced a double down the right-field line to score Sandoval and the Royals sixth run of the inning came on an infield single by UCSB-commit Henry Manfredonia to score a hustling Speake from second.

TCU-commit Chase Hoover struck out six and reached 88 mph on several pitches on the radar gun.