After winning their first game at home on Jan. 23, 3-1, Chabot’s baseball team dropped their second matchup in a back-to-back series against Santa Rosa, 8-9.

The Gladiators’ pitching has been tested early. In their first two matchups, five out of their six pitchers who have come into a game had at least three innings pitched, with all of them facing over 10 batters.

Facing Sacramento City next in a back-to-back series starting on Jan. 27, the Glads looked to get back on track while still early in their schedule.

Sacramento starting pitcher Ned Frutchey delivered a quality start, going 6 innings, facing 23 batters and striking out 8 Gladiators. This game also saw Sacramento City record 7 hits, while Chabot had 8 hits and left 8 runners left on base.

In a close and thrilling game, Chabot seemed to match every opportunity with one of their own, but was unable to produce any runs. Ending in a 3-0 win for Sacramento.

The second game of the series, on Jan. 29 at Sacramento City, was another tough-fought battle for the Gladiators. In a game where both teams recorded 7 hits, Chabot only had one RBI (#23 Joshua Heard) and once again 8 runners left on base. Back-to-back losses, turned into a three-game losing streak.

Returning home on Jan. 31 vs Modesto, the Gladiators are looking to turn it around before a four-game road trip starting Feb. 3.

Two Gladiators looking to reenergize the team were #3 Jonathan Sheppard and #4 Terrell Scott-Romain. Sheppard, in 16 at-bats has a .438 batting average and a .471 on-base percentage. While Scott-Romain, in 16 at-bats is batting .313 with a .386 on-base percentage.

A challenging matchup from the beginning as (#29) Chabot’s Eli Gennis was pulled early in the top of the first inning. Facing six batters, allowing three runs and one out.

With plenty of scoring early from Modesto, Chabot closed the top of the first, down 4-0. Chabot, relentless, fought back and tied the game in the bottom of the second. Finally taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly, 6-5; Chabot added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, making it 7-5.

While the batters were hot, with both teams recording 8 hits, Chabot’s pitching was diminishing.

In the top of the ninth, Modesto started a comeback, beginning with loading the bases, and with a base on balls, lead to the first run of the inning, 7-6. A double from Modesto brought in all three on base, turning the game 9-7. An RBI single made it 10-7, and Chabot finally closed the inning.

After scoring five runs, the momentum completely shifted in the ninth, and Chabot suffered a heartbreaker of a finish, 10-7.

The Glad’s will need to shake it off and push forward as they travel to Modesto for the conclusion of the back-to-back series. Following, they will be on a three-game road trip until they return home on Feb. 12 vs Napa Valley.