The day started off great for the American River College baseball team on Thursday.  The offense put up a pair of runs in the first inning, one in the second, and two more in the third.  The 5-0 lead seemed like the team would cruise to an easy win.  But the final score doesn't quite tell the whole story.  After freshman CF Dylan Westbrook (Oak Ridge) doubled home two runs in the top of the first with no outs, the Beavers next three batters all went down on strikes.  Sophomore 2B Jayden Reynolds (Bella Vista) singled home a run in the 2^nd.  Freshman RF Kaedin Bulock (Yuba City) then got his first collegiate home run, a two run shot to left on an 0-2 count to put the Beavers up 5-0.  But in the middle innings the offense ran dry.  They squandered an opportunity in the 5^th with runners at 1^st and 3^rd with one out when freshman C Grant Fletcher (Yuba City) lined into an inning ending double play to short. 

Freshman RHP/DH Jackson Nichols (Valley Christian) was on the mound for his first start of the season and he threw five scoreless innings to keep the Beavers ahead 5-0.  Sophomore David Henry (El Camino) came on to pitch the 6^th inning, his first college appearance on the mound.  After a pair of walks and a couple of outs Henry got touched for a three run home run to bring the 49ers to within 5-3.  The Beavers answered back in a big way, scoring a season high 9 runs in the top of the 7^th inning to give the Beavers a 14-3 cushion.  All but two of the runs came after two were out and an error by the Yuba second baseman opened the floodgates.  The big blow was a two run home run, the first of his collegiate career for Westbrook.  It capped a 2x4 day with a double, a home run and 4 RBI for the freshman.  ARC added a run in the 8^th and Yuba scored a pair in the 9^th off of freshman RHP Riley Stevens (River City) who overcame a bit of wildness to strike out the side after walking three and hitting one.

The two teams finish their three game series on Friday at 2:00 pm at Beaver Field.