Big Early Lead, Thomas' Bat Leads FRC to 10th Straight

EUREKA--Slugger Jerry Thomas roped four hits, including a double and a home run to help lead the Feather River Golden Eagles to their tenth consecutive victory, topping the College of the Redwoods on Friday afternoon, 9-6.

The red hot Golden Eagles improved to 15-5 overall and to 6-0 in the Golden Valley Conference. The Corsairs are now 6-13 this spring and 0-6 in the GVC. The two squads will play again on Saturday in Eureka, with the single contest starting at 11 am.

Thomas hit a two-run shot in the fifth and drilled an RBI-double in the first, just two of his four base knocks on the day. He also scored three times in addition to plating three runs. The round tripper was his fifth of the season and he now has 23 RBI in 20 games.

Thomas and Ryan Blanchard had back-to-back doubles in the first, and Cooper Kitrel added another two bagger to put the Golden Eagles up 3-0 before COR came to bat. FRC would add three more runs in the fifth, thanks in part to Thomas' blast, to take a 6-1 lead.

The Corsairs would score five runs over the last four innings, but it wasn't enough on this day after FRC's Bridger Holmes set down the hosts through the first five innings. Holmes picked up the win, allowing six hits in five stanzas and only one run. He walked just one batter and fanned nine Corsairs.

The Golden Eagles had 11 hits on the day, including two each by Eric Romero, Cory McIntyre and Blanchard. In fact, batters 2-5 in the FRC order had 10 of the team's 11 hits. 

College of the Redwoods had 12 hits of their own, but also had seven errors on the defensive side to hurt their cause. 

After Saturday's game in Eureka, Feather River will return home next weekend to face Butte College.