Merced Unloads, Advances, 7-4

Two bases-loaded situations didn’t go the way the Westlake-Royal Oak American Legion team would have liked Sunday in a 7-4 loss to Merced at the state playoffs in Yountville.

Merced had a big inning with a key bases-loaded hit, and Westlake-Royal Oak failed to do the same when its turn came.

Westlake-Royal Oak (29-4-1) is now 1-1 in the double-elimination tournament, and will need two victories today to advance.

The key blow for Merced came in the fourth inning, with the game tied 1-1. Westlake-Royal Oak reliever Scott Christiansen was summoned to face No. 9 hitter Tom Warner with two out and the bases loaded.

Warner took a 1-and-2 pitch and drilled it for a three-run double, giving Merced a 4-1 lead.

Westlake-Royal Oak did not fare as well in its bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in bottom of the seventh, trailing 5-1. Matt Riordan lined out to third. Matt Pitstick hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in one run. But Kevin Mellinger then flew out to the warning track in center field.

“That was our big chance right there,” said Mike McClure, Westlake-Royal Oak coach.

Mike McHargue had two hits to lead Westlake-Royal Oak’s nine-hit attack.

Jeff Smith (1-1), who started Saturday and was knocked out in the third, started again Sunday, this time leaving just before Warner’s hit in the fourth. He was charged with four runs.