Eagles break losing streak in a big way

Laney wins four straight after suffering 17-game slide

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Laney College leadoff hitter Eli Alcantar swings at a pitch during the Eagles’ 9–6 victory over Solano College on April 14.[/caption]The long losing streak for the Laney College baseball team is over.
The Eagles snapped a 17-game skid with an 8–1 home victory over Mendocino College on April 7, and then extended their winning ways for three more games, including a 9–6 victory over Bay Valley Conference leader Solano College on April 14.
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Laney College players celebrate after an 8–1 victory over Mendocino College on April 7, which broke a 17-game losing streak.[/caption]Laney won eight of 12 non-conference games before losing its first 16 games in the Bay Valley Conference. Everything seemed to conspire against the Eagles — poor pitching, poor hitting, shoddy defense and plain bad luck.
Five of the losses were by one run; two were by two runs.
But it all started to turn around for the Eagles on April 7 when the Eagles defeated Mendocino. Laney scored four runs in the first and two in the second to take a 6–0 and provide starting pitcher Cody Kellar with a cushion that he used to full advantage.
Kellar, a sophomore, pitched 7–2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits while striking out two.
Marciano Reichel’s two-run double in the first was the big blow for the Eagles.
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Cody Kellar won two games in the Eagles’ four-game winning streak, including a 9–6 decision against Solano College on April 14.[/caption]Laney followed up its victory with rare road victories against Napa Valley (5–2) and Contra Costa College (10–4) before returning home to play Solano.
The Eagles held a 3–1 lead before the Falcons tied the game at 3–3 in the top of the fifth. Laney scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning with Ryan Silva hitting a two-run double to left field.
Kellar got the victory again, although he was cuffed around a bit. He went seven innings, gave up five runs (two earned) and surrendered nine hits.
The Eagles are 12–20 overall, and 4–16 in the BVC.
Laney has four more games left, including home games against Yuba College (April 16) and Los Medanos (April 23).