PASADENA, CA- Coming into their Friday night contest against the Conejo Oaks, the Arroyo Seco Saints were seeking their first three-game win streak since the first three games of the summer.

The Saints were unsuccessful, falling 5-2 to the Conejo Oaks. The loss continued a frustrating trend for the Saints, who have now lost five straight games when on the verge of a three-game win streak and dropped to 14-11.

One of the lone bright spots for the Saints offense was left-fielder Joey Craig (portal). Craig reached base four times (two walks and two hits) and drove in the Saints’ first run.

“I’m just trying to be another guy that’s putting a positive, quality at-bat in the lineup,” Craig said regarding what he can add to the Saints offense.

Runs were already going to be tough for the Saints against Oaks starter Ryan Humphreys (Westmont College), who entered the game with a minuscule 1.72 ERA. Although Humphreys had an outstanding performance with five scoreless innings, he got a lot of help from Saints miscues on the bases.

Humphreys allowed four baserunners (one hit, three walks), and three got either picked off or caught stealing, effectively ending any chance for Arroyo Seco to have a big inning.

After pitching four scoreless innings of relief in his summer debut, Carter Herrera (Cal State San Bernadino) made his first start and kept the Saints in the game, allowing two runs in four innings.

Herrera pitched a scoreless top of the first, setting the stage for the pitching duel that would take place between him and Humphreys.

Humphreys matched Herrera with a scoreless inning of his own while striking out two.

Conejo recorded three straight hits and took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, which was the only inning it scored against Herrera.

The Saints had several opportunities to tie the game by getting runners on in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, respectively. However, all three baserunners got either thrown out on an attempted steal or picked off.

The Oaks added two more runs in the sixth inning against Saints’ reliever Tyler Herges (Azusa Pacific), who pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

Conejo expanded its lead in the seventh with Ahmad Harajli (Miami U) struggling to find the strike zone, walking five in just 1.2 innings of relief. Arroyo Seco cut the lead to 5-1 in the bottom half with an RBI single from Craig, who hadn’t taken an in-game at-bat before last night for a while.

“Just really getting back to basic,” Craig said. “Seeing the ball, being on time and also being in ‘yes’ mode.”

The Saints scored their final run on the night in the eighth on an RBI single from designated hitter Jakob Schardt (Cal State Fullerton).

Arroyo Seco will get another crack at Conejo on Saturday with a trip west to Thousand Oaks.

• Saints reporter Dylan Gonzales (Fresno State)
• Saints photographer Noah Pineda (UT Austin)