SECOND BASEMAN Anthony Altman dives to try and stop a ball against Rodriguez.

Niko Leon Guerrero pitched five solid innings and teammates Jack Bowles and Drew Saitz each drove in two runs as Benicia High’s varsity baseball team beat visiting Rodriguez on Monday, 7-2.

It was the third victory in five days for the Panthers (10-6), who are enjoying their longest winning streak of the season.

“You’re starting see to a change in our personality,” said Benicia manager Jim Bowles. “There’s a little more confidence and they’re starting to get that vibe going.”

The Panthers struggled early as two infield errors led to an unearned Rodriguez run in the top of the first. Guerrero didn’t let that bother him and went on to allow only one more run over the next four innings.

“It shook me up a little bit but I knew they’d pick themselves back up,” Guerrero said of the early defensive miscues. “I just had to keep throwing strikes.”

“He pitched like a senior,” Bowles added. “We made a few mistakes early on but he pitched through it.”

Benicia tied it in the bottom of the first when Caleb Van Blake drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on two-out single by Jason Toumbs. After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, the Panthers blew the game open with five runs in the third thanks to a big Mustangs error and singles by Bowles, Isiah Saguar and Kyle Sinclair.

Benicia’s defense quickly recovered. Sinclair threw out a runner at the plate from left field, Saitz made a nice play at shortstop and Bowles turned a double play that got Benicia out of a bases-loaded jam.

Taylor Greene added a double that scored Saitz in the fifth and Cole Eigenhuis pitched two scoreless innings to close things out.

The Panthers play at Vacaville on Saturday.

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