Groundout. Strikeout. Flyout. The Bear Cubs offense struggled again as they lost their second series of the season to Folsom Lake College by the score of 3-1 on Friday at Cook Sypher Field.

The Santa Rosa Junior College team tied a season low in hits with four.

“We’ll see if we’re a playoff-caliber offense, but we weren’t today,” said SRJC Head Coach Damon Neidlinger.

Despite the offense’s inconsistency this season, Catcher Cole Brodnansky remained consistent.

Brodnansky produced half of the Cubs’ offensive output with two hits of his own, as well as batting in the only run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Both the head coach and assistant coach stressed the Folsom pitcher they faced, sophomore Shane Gustafson, is an elite talent.

“Their guy’s good. He’s a playoff caliber pitcher and now he’s 6-1,” Neidlinger said.

“We faced a good pitcher i’m not gonna deny that,” said assistant coach Tom Francois.

Gustafson has an impressive 1.31 ERA on the season along with 38 strikeouts.

Patrick Keamoai has made eight appearances on the mound in relief for other pitchers this season but made his first career start against FLC Friday.

“Patrick did a heck of a good job, I can’t say enough about that kid,” Francois said.

Keamoai gave up two hits and a run in the first inning but struck out the last batter for a up-and-down performance.

He eventually found his footing and shut down the Falcons’ offense holding them to only two hits until he was relieved by Devin Kirby at the top of the eighth inning.

“When you’re starting a game you have more time to find your pitches and your off speed,” Keamoai said. “I ‘m just going out there trying to do my job and give my team the best position to win.”

Coach Francois issued an ominous statement about the future of the Cubs’ season,

“We’re gonna be in the playoffs, I just don’t know how far we’ll go. I’ve never felt this way before.”

The Big 8 Conference Regional Playoffs loom in the distance with six games remaining on the season. Sacramento City College(23-11) and Sierra College(24-9) will prove to be tough obstacles for the Cubs on the road to the Regional Playoff Round.

Up Next:

The SRJC Bear Cubs(22-9) look to bounce back from two straight losses against Sacramento City College at 2:30 p.m. April 17 at Cook Sypher Field.