Lincoln High pitcher Aden Bowman, who has committed to pitch at the University of the Pacific next season, threw six strong innings on Friday, keeping Turlock hitters off balance en route to a 4-1 non-conference victory at Mark de la Motte Field.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 3-2-2, while the Bulldogs dip to 5-3, with perennial powerhouse St. Mary’s set to visit on Tuesday.
“They were on — they only made one mistake and not until the seventh inning — and they played crisp,” said THS coach Mike Souza. “Their kid went out and threw strikes and challenged us. That’s the only difference right now. They’re playing crisp and we’re not.”
Lincoln jumped on Turlock starter Andrew Lujan for two runs in the first, but the senior right-hander settled and didn’t give up another tally until the fifth, when Taylor Tran singled over the head of a leaping Andrew Sevilla at third.
Bowman retired the Bulldogs in order in their half of the fifth, then got an insurance run in the sixth when catcher Diego Davis doubled to right-center to plate Dylan Patten to complete the two-out rally and chase Lujan. Mason Baker came on in relief and, after hitting the first batter he faced, struck out No. 3 hitter Bradley Swanson for the final out.
Turlock finally got on the board with a run in the sixth.
With one away, catcher Owen Miller doubled to right-center. Bowman struck out the next batter he faced, but couldn’t wiggle off the hook, as Tyler Castro traded places with pinch-runner Chris Allerton with his double down the left-field line.
Mason Baker pitched the seventh for the Bulldogs, despite hitting back-to-back batters, escaped unscathed.
Turlock had the winning run at the plate in the seventh.
Baker led off the frame with a walk. Reliever Joey Victor retired the next two hitters he faced before speedy Carter Crivelli reached on an error and Miller was hit by a pitch. Carson Gonzales then walked up to the plate with a .444 batting average. He worked the count full before sending a fastball deep to left field about 20 feet in front of the 340-foot sign. His average now stands at .421.
“When you play a good team that’s on, one or two mistakes will bite you,” said Souza. “But that’s why we play this tough preseason schedule, to challenge everyone to get better.”
In addition to Miller and Castro, Gonzales, Crivelli, Lujan, Sevilla, and Brady Faria all collected hits for the Bulldogs.
Davis and Tran had three hits apiece for the Trojans, who will be back in town on Wednesday to face Pitman at 4 p.m.
