White Sands Pupfish Rally Past Carlsbad Bats 6-5

July 15 2011 The White Sands Pupfish rallied for a 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Carlsbad Bats. White Sands finished with 14 hits while Carlsbad collected 15, but the Pupfish scored the decisive run in the 11th inning to secure the win at Griggs Park.

Robert Rodriguez led White Sands with three hits and four RBI, while Tim Rotola went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Ernie Munoz and Justin Smith each added two hits and one RBI. For Carlsbad, Jason Hyland went 3-for-5 with one RBI, and James Mays, Kieran Bradford, Mike Goldy and Ryan Kesecker each had two hits.

Carlsbad scored once in the first inning before adding two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. White Sands answered with a run in the seventh, tied the game with another in the ninth and pushed across the winning run in the 11th. The Pupfish also turned one double play and finished with three errors.

Jacob McBride earned the win after allowing three hits and striking out two in three scoreless innings. Steven Lemmon started for White Sands and gave up five runs, three earned, on nine hits in five innings. Steve Merslich took the loss for Carlsbad after allowing one run on four hits in 1.2 innings. Carlsbad starter Seth Marchant worked seven innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits while striking out four.