East Union showed no ill effects from getting swept last week by first-place Kimball, winning 8-4 Tuesday at rival Manteca.
The Lancers (5-2 Valley Oak League, 6-2 overall) took advantage of five errors while outhitting the Buffaloes (4-3), 11-5.
“Overall, I'm super proud of the guys and how they bounced back after last week and took care of business today,” East Union coach Carlos Herrera said.
Benny Slaughter pitched in place of ace Willie Segura, who is nursing a sore wrist. East Union spotted Slaughter three runs in the top of the first inning, but Manteca answered with three of its own in the bottom half thanks to two hits, two walks and a hit batter.
Slaughter overcame his early command issues and pitched four straight perfect innings. He finished with seven strikeouts in six innings. Austin Orr closed it out, giving up a run on two hits and a walk.
“Benny started shaky, but he rallied from there and just carried us,” Herrera said. “Today was his first start. Willie is usually our Tuesday guy, but we're lucky to have someone like Benny step in and do the job he did.
“We're blessed with arms and we have quite a few. Him stepping in for Willie was absolutely huge.”
Alex Murrietta pitched 4 1/3 innings for Manteca, and Amrit Dehal took over the final 2 2/3.
East Union recaptured the lead for good in the second inning, scoring twice. Segura drove in JP Perazzo with an RBI double and and scored on a double play. The Lancers tacked on one more in the third and two additional insurance runs in the fifth.
Ashton Heath helped jump start the Lancers early, swatting a two-run double in the first. He ended up 3 for 3 with two doubles. Nolan Calmes (double) and Anthony Flores contributed two hits apiece.
Joaquin Gurrola, Lucas Krenz and Rex Watson each had an RBI hit for the Buffaloes, who will look to even the series in the finale Thursday at East Union's Agostini Field.
Central Catholic 7, Ripon Christian 1
Ripon Christian (3-4) had its three-game winning streak snapped by the visiting Raiders (5-2, 6-2 overall).
Cam Hoffman knocked in fellow sophomore Eli Terpsma in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Knights' lone run. Ripon Christian was limited to five hits.
Will Gilbert pitched five solid innings in the loss, striking out seven while surrendering three of the runs.
