Beckman, behind Trevor Ernt, turns away early threat by Irvine and wins 6-0

Beckman’s CJ Burnette dives back safely to second base as Irvine’s Patrick Hackworth tries to make a tag. (Photos courtesy Rosalene Ledendecker, For OC Sports Zone)

Left-hander Trevor Ernt was on again for Beckman’s baseball team in a Pacific Coast League game Tuesday afternoon against Irvine.

Ernt extended his streak to 38 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run this season and won his seventh in a row without a loss as the league-leading Patriots beat Irvine 6-0 at Beckman. Ernt, who struck out six, has allowed just one unearned run all season.

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Ernt (7-0) battled out of a first inning jam, and then was in control the rest of the way before Tristan Dupont came in to get the final two outs in the seventh.

“I really think the game was won in that first inning,” said Beckman Coach Kevin Lavalle. “We were a hit away from being down 2-0 five minutes into the game and Trevor just bears down and probably threw his best pitches to the four and five hitters in that first inning. He just consistently does that.

“I know when our guys come to the ball park and Trevor Ernt is pitching, we feel good about our chances.”

In the top of the first inning, Patrick Hackworth led off with a single and Grant Lockwood reached on a bunt single. Bubba Filia then sacrificed the runners over. But Ernt struck out Casey Kudell and Leonard Memon to end the inning.

After that Ernt was in control.

“After the Portola game, I had a little bit of an arm injury so yesterday, I threw a bullpen kind of light and it wasn’t feeling too hot, but I talked with the coaches and they told me about the recovery and I came out today and it felt 100 percent and all the pitches were feeling fantastic,” he said. “I was super comfortable out on the mound today.

“The lead-off hit wasn’t expected and it kind of rattled me a little bit, but I knew I could trust my defense and trust my pitches and the pitch calling from the coaches.”

Lavalle said Ernt came out in the seventh as a precaution because of the slight arm soreness.

Irvine (9-5, 4-4) looked like it might get some runs off Ernt in the first.

“We came out and got two hits quickly and bunted our guys to second and third,” said Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota. “We just didn’t execute when we had a chance. They had the same situation; they just executed. We’re pretty comparable, but we gave them six free passes, maybe a little more than that.

“You can’t do that against a really good team and Beckman is a really good team so I hope to see a little more sense of urgency from our guys and I know we will. I now we will get back in the grind tomorrow and Thursday you will see a brand new team.”

Beckman (13-2, 8-0) responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Sean McLain was hit by a pitch, Ricky Teel and Connor McGuire reached on bunt singles and Alec Gomez followed with an RBI single.

Nick McLain then walked with the bases loaded to drive in a run and McGuire scored when Logan Jackson hit into a double play.

“We did our job in the first inning,” Lavalle said. “I like to look at the scoreboard and see one, one, one, one all the way across and that will usually be enough to win you a game. “

The Patriots added another run in the second inning. Sean McLain walked, stole second and went to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by McGuire.

In the third inning, Nick McLain walked, was sacrificed to second by Jackson and after a single by CJ Burnette, scored on a sacrifice fly by Jack Harney.

Beckman added one more run in the fifth inning. Jackson singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on RBI single by Burnette.

Irvine also had runners on first and third with one out in the second, but Ernt closed the door. Ernt wound up scattering six hits.

Beckman had 10 hits off three Irvine pitchers. Starter Miles Malohn was replaced in the second inning by Edward Kole. J.C. Allen came on to pitch in the sixth inning.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com