Liscio lifts Temecula Valley to win over Vista Murrieta

Temecula Valley’s Cody Liscio hasn’t seen a lot of time on the mound this season.

However, Liscio got an opportunity to start Friday’s Southwestern League game against Vista Murrieta. And he went the distance, scattering seven hits while striking out nine as the Golden Bears prevailed 3-1 to take the season series against the Broncos.

Temecula Valley (7-21, 2-1) won the opener 2-1, and Vista Murrieta (6-4, 1-2) evened the series with a 1-0 victory.

“To hold Vista Murrieta to three runs this week is a testament to the hard work our pitching staff and defense has put in,” Golden Bears coach Darric Merrell said. “I’ve learned to trust my pitchers, and when they tell me they want to finish a game out, I’m going to give them that opportunity. Cody wanted the ball at the end, and he delivered.”

Things didn’t start so well for Temecula Valley, as Vista Murrieta’s Ryland Duson led off the game with an opposite-field double and came around to score on a one-out single by Taytum Reeves. Liscio escaped further damage by getting a pop-up and a strikeout to end the inning.

RJ Holmes led off Vista Murrieta’s half of the third inning with a single, but Temecula Valley catcher Will Bandel threw out Holmes trying to steal second base. Bandel threw out a pair of runners during Friday’s game, catching another runner in the fifth inning.

Temecula Valley tied the score in the bottom of the third. Josh Pinnel led off with a single up the middle and came around to score on a wild pitch. Vista Murrieta starter Gavin Kramer got back-to-back pop outs to limit the damage.

An inning later, Temecula Valley’s defense turned a double play to help Liscio get around a one-out single.

The Golden Bears then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Bandel led off the inning with a single, and pinchrunner Aaron Fratt came around to score on Taden Krogsgaard’s RBI double to left field.

Liscio helped his own cause in the fifth inning with a single that brought home Rocco Pugliese for a 3-1 lead.

Liscio had thrown only 4 1/3 innings in three relief appearances prior to Friday afternoon’s game.

“It’s been a while since I threw,” he said. “So early on, I was fighting things but made big pitches when I needed to until I found a groove in the middle innings.

“Any team can win on any given day down here, so we have to put this series aside and get ready for Chaparral next week.”

Vista Murrieta, the Southwestern League’s two-time defending champion, threatened one last time in its half of the sixth inning. Kramer singled to right field with two outs and Brady Luyben was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Liscio escaped once again by getting Derrick Kraus to ground out to second base to end the threat.

Liscio retired the side in order in the top of the seventh for the complete game. He also went 2 for 2 with a walk at the plate.

Duson and Holmes each had a pair of hits for Vista Murrieta.