Benicia High’s varsity baseball team avoided disaster Friday with a 4-2 victory in eight innings over host Fairfield.

The Panthers, locked in a tight playoff race with American Canyon and Bethel, took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the eighth. Pitcher Cole Eigenhuis, who went all eight innings for Benicia, retired Fairfield in order in the bottom of the eighth to secure his fourth win of the season.

Benicia’s offense had a tough time figuring out Fairfield pitcher Junior Ortega, who also went all eight innings and scattered six hits with 10 strikeouts. Of Benicia’s four runs, only one was earned.

“We struggled on offense and struck out too much, but we got it done,” said Benicia manager Jim Bowles.

The Panthers (15-10, 8-5 Solano County Athletic Conference) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning thanks to some poor defense by the Falcons (3-19, 2-11 SCAC). Caleb Van Blake scored from second when a wild pickoff throw sailed into centerfield, and Jason Toumbs later scored on a dropped third strike with two outs.

Fairfield, however, didn’t go away quietly. Robert Meadows raced home on a double steal in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-1. Justin Banks doubled with two outs in the sixth and scored the tying run on a RBI single by Ortega.

Benicia relied on some more Fairfield gaffes in the decisive eighth inning. Alex Osterholt reached safely on an error and went to third on a wild pitch. Jack Bowles walked and promptly got caught in a rundown, allowing Osterholt to steal home for the go-ahead run. Singles by Van Blake and Toumbs added an insurance run.

Benicia lowered its postseason Magic Number to 1 with the victory heading into this week’s series against second-place American Canyon (12-10, 9-4 SCAC). The Panthers, who play at American Canyon on Monday, can clinch a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth with one more win or a Bethel loss. Bethel (8-11, 7-6 SCAC) upset American Canyon on Friday, 13-3.

The Panthers can finish in second place in the SCAC if they beat the Wolves on Monday and again in Benicia on Wednesday.

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