The North County Christian School varsity baseball team overcame wet conditions Wednesday afternoon, defeating the visiting Maricopa Indians at Alvord Field 4-2 in a five-inning rain-shortened game.

Though limited to three hits, the Crusaders took advantage of eight bases-on-balls and a pair of hit batsmen to scratch out the win, as five of the game’s six runs were scored on wild pitches or errors.

Josh Feld held the visiting Indians to a lone hit while striking out 10 over the four and two-thirds innings he worked, gaining his first win of the season. The sophomore right-hander struck out seven of the first nine hitters he faced. Crusader ace Chance Sorensen saved the win by striking out Maricopa’s John Medel on three pitches with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning.

The Crusader offense struggled to score, leaving the bases loaded three of the four innings they batted. After Feld used two strikeouts to overcome a Medel walk in the Maricopa first inning, Sorensen got NCCS going in the bottom of the opening frame. The senior was hit by the first pitch from Indian right-hander Brad Laws. After Sorensen stole second base, T.J. Mitchell beat out a roller to second base, sending Sorensen to third.

Mitchell stole second, but Feld popped out to first base. After Jared Kahler took a called third strike, Caleb Katches drew a walk to load the bases, but Phil Buzzelli struck out swinging, leaving the bases loaded.

After Feld struck out the side in the Indian second, NCCS’ Matt Jespersen drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Sorensen singled Jespersen to second. Mitchell was hit by the first pitch he saw to load the bases. Before Feld walked, Jespersen scored the game’s first run on a Laws wild pitch, giving NCCS the early 1-0 lead, but the Crusaders left the bases loaded again.

After both teams went down in order in the third inning, Maricopa’s Kenny Casparis got on base leading off the fourth when NCCS misplayed a bunt. Casparis stole second and advanced to third on a failed pick-off play, eventually scoring on a Feld wild pitch. In the meantime, Laws parlayed a one-out walk and stolen base into the Indians’ second run, scoring on a Mitchell errant pick-off throw.

Jespersen helped the Crusaders bounce back in the fourth, again drawing a bases-on-balls. Taylor Brard blooped a 3-2 pitch down the right-field line, which eluded Maricopa’s Ed Owens for a double, with Jespersen advancing to third base. While Sorensen was drawing a walk, Jespersen scored for the second time on a wild pitch, tying the score at 2-2.

After Sorensen stole second base, Brard scored the go ahead run on another wild pitch. Consecutive walks to Mitchell, Feld and Kahler pushed in the insurance run, giving NCCS the 4-2 lead, before the Crusaders left the bases loaded for a third time in the game.

Maricopa waged a final threat in the fifth as Frankie Estrada reached base when Feld hit him with a 1-0 pitch. Feld struck out the next two hitters, but walked Brent Laws, before surrendering the Indians’ only hit to Casparis, loading the bases. Sorensen, dominating in the Coast Valley League, easily blew Medel away helping the Crusaders take over the league’s top spot with their third win in as many league starts.

The Crusaders, now 3-6 overall, travel to Santa Maria today to finish off the first round of league play against Valley Christian Academy. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.