BENICIA’S DAVID KING tears into a pitch against Deer Valley. King had two of Benicia’s six hits in an extra-innning defeat.

Visiting Deer Valley scored three unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning and beat Benicia High’s varsity baseball team, 4-1, in a non-league game Wednesday

It was the second loss in two days for the Panthers (2-2), who have scored only three runs over the past 15 innings. Benicia also made four errors on the day, including three infield errors in the decisive eighth inning.

“We’re a much better ballclub than we displayed,” said Benicia coach Tony Longmire, who managed the team in the absence of Jim Bowles. Bowles was suspended one game after being ejected from Tuesday’s loss to Alhambra. “We just didn’t put the ball in play enough and didn’t play good defense.”

“It’s frustrating when we’re not playing Panther baseball,” said Benicia senior Caleb Van Blake. “We have away too many outs.”

The Panthers had a chance to win it when Jason Toumbs led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. Benicia couldn’t come up with a clutch hit and fell apart the following inning.

Deer Valley’s Jesse Tamelier reached safely on an error to start the eighth and Andres Rodriguez walked to chase pitcher Jonathan Holmes. Van Blake entered in relief and promptly struck out the next batter, then got Jared Baur to bounce a potential game-ending double-play grounder to second that was booted for an error, loading the bases.

The Wolverines pounced. Nick Calvert knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single to short right field and another infield error scored Devin Gould to make it 3-1. Baur later scored an insurance run on a ground out.

That was all Deer Valley pitcher Jordan Rutkowski needed. The senior pitched all eight innings and retired the side in order in the eighth to secure the victory.

Cole Eigenhuis started on the hill for Benicia and allowed only one run in five innings, scattering six hits and a walk while striking out six.

Both teams scored single runs in the fourth inning. A two-out double by Baur and an RBI single by Nick Calvert put Deer Valley in front. Van Blake drove in David King with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to tie it, but the Panthers couldn’t take advantage with runners at the corners and only one out.

King had two of Benicia’s six hits.

Benicia plays at Vintage on Friday.

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