The Los Medanos College baseball team squeaked by with a 4-2 win over Solano College on April 23. With this win, the Stangs are one step closer to making their way to a playoff berth.

Starting pitcher Mike Alexander went seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs and throwing four strikeouts.

Both the Mustangs and Falcons went scoreless through three innings, as each team was defensively sound, making little to no threat on the base path.

In the bottom of the third inning, outfielder Jared Ambuehl was able to sacrifice to the pitcher, sending outfielder Deon White home and outfielder Jonathan Allen to third. Next, third baseman Tony Self would follow up with an RBI single to bring in Allen to end the inning 2-0.

Both sides’ offenses would once again fall silent as batters were stopped by a strong defensive performance through the fifth inning.

However, the Falcons would answer back to the two runs with two of their own in the top of the sixth. The tied game would last another two heart-stopping innings.

In top of the eighth inning, pitcher Spencer Vincent came in, allowing no hits and no runs. He was able to get a quick three outs to retire the side and allow the Mustangs to take back the lead.

Ambuehl launched a ball to the fence for an RBI triple, scoring catcher Ethan Utler as LMC was able to once again clench the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Self would follow, grounding out to the pitcher scoring Ambuehl and increasing the lead to 4-2.

Pitcher Gabe Taylor came in to close the game in the ninth, allowing just one hit and notching two strikeouts.

Vincent claimed his first victory against Solano and Taylor was given the save.

“It was one of only a few games this year that were close wins and I thought Mike [Alexander] battled well against them,” said Ambuehl.

He noted that during the at-bat which he would have his triple, head coach Anthony D’Albora gave a hit-and-run sign.

“I just tried my best to just go the other way with the pitch and I put a good swing on it. That’s when Gabe came in and shut the door,” Ambuehl said. “He’s been pretty clutch for us at times this year.”

The Stangs are just a few games away from the end of their 2016 season, and — as of April 27 — the team is 23-11 in league.