Starting pitcher Evan Phillips didn’t allow an earned run in 5 2/3 innings last Saturday as Benicia High’s varsity baseball team beat host Napa, 5-2.

It was Benicia’s second victory over Napa in two days. Benicia’s two starting pitchers combined for no earned runs in 10 2/3 innings during the series.

Phillips retired the first eight batters he faced and 11 of the first 12 en route to the victory. The junior allowed only one hit, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter before turning things over to Caleb Van Blake, who notched Benicia’s first save of the year.

The Panthers (2-0) left the bases loaded in the first inning but struck for two runs an inning later. Cole Eigenhuis walked with the bases loaded and two outs to force home Michael Cosmides with the first run. Josiah Peterson scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

Singles by Cosmides and David King led to another run in the top of the fifth. Napa closed to within 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of two-out Benicia errors, but the Panthers responded with a run in the top of the seventh when Jonathan Holmes scored on a Peterson fielder’s choice.

King had two of Benicia’s seven hits on the day. Kyle Vanderschoot had two of Napa’s three hits.

The Panthers host Alhrambra on Tuesday and Deer Valley on Wednesday.

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