Host Burlingame used timely hitting, a costly Menlo-Atherton throwing error, and the pitching of Forrest Armanino to defeat the Bears 3-2 in a PAL Bay Division contest on Wednesday afternoon. Armanino scattered six hits, struck out six, and allowed two earned runs to improve Burlingame to 12-4-1 overall and 2-2 in league play. M-A fell to 10-7 overall and 4-1 in league.

Armanino’s stellar effort was nearly matched by that of M-A starting pitcher Patrick Moriarty (3-2), who yielded just five hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out four Panther batters over six innings.

Junior Casey Eason led M-A’s offense with two hits and an RBI, and junior Kyle Zirbes drove in M-A’s other run with an RBI single.

Burlingame (currently ranked 8th in the CCS by MaxPreps) took an early lead with two unearned runs in the first inning. Following a walk and a single, the Bears committed a throwing error on a ground ball that allowed one run to score and moved another baserunner to third. Burlingame scored its second run when Ryan Bender lofted a sacrifice fly to left.

M-A tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third following a bloop single by Moriarty, a ringing double by Myles Brewer, and RBI singles by Eason and Zirbes.

Burlingame answered with a run in the bottom of the third on a walk and an RBI triple by Mitch Foley.

Pitching in relief of Armanino in the seventh, Chris Blanton struck out the side to secure the one-run victory for Burlingame.

M-A returns to action on Friday afternoon at home against Burlingame.