American River College defeated Modesto JC 4-3 in Modesto on Thursday to complete the series sweep of the Pirates.  The win gives the Beavers four wins in the last five games and makes them winners of 5 of the last 7.  A.R.C. finishes 5th in the BIG 8 Conference and will need help to get into the playoffs, but there are several scenarios that could play out that would land the Beavers a playoff berth. 

Freshman Micah Gunter (Valley Christian) had his best outing of the year, throwing 7 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, and getting some big defensive plays behind him.  He needed just 65 pitches through 7 innings when he turned the game over to sophomore Tommy Balmain (Oakmont) who had dominated the Pirates in the first two contests.  With the Beavers up 3-0, Modesto quickly got to Balmain, starting the inning with a single, followed by a line out, then a double down the left field line to get MJC on the board.  Balmain walked the next two batters to load the bases when freshman closer Ian Codina (Oakmont) was brought in.  Codina gave up a chopper over the head of first baseman Kirby Broadbent (Oakmont) which tied the game for Modesto and left runners at first and third with one out.  MJC then tried a safety squeeze, but Broadbent was able to field the bunt and flip the ball to catcher Joaquin Sequeira (Antelope) who applied the tag to keep the score 3-3.

Broadbent then led off the top of the 9th with a double to right, his 9th of the year.  After 3B Brayden Gomez (Bella Vista) moved Broadbent over to third with one out, LF Mike Hatfield (Del Campo) was unable to score Braodbent.  DH Tyler Swank (Del Campo) then laced a sharp single to right to score Broadbent.  Codina was able to shut the Pirates down in the 9th to claim his 4th win of the season.

Broadbent had three hits on the day, including the double, and Mike Hatfield had a pair of hits, including an RBI double.  Tyler Swank also had two hits, including the game winning RBI.