Regaining their defensive balance after three error-ridden games, the Falcon boys baseball team surprised the Blaine Borderites 5-4 Tuesday.

After getting blanked by the Borderites 6-0 on April 18, South Whidbey got their fielding under control and bats working in the road game, then let the pitchers do the rest in a contest that came down to the ninth inning.

With Stefan Kolbo on the mound in his first start since breaking his wrist in the pre-season, the Falcons were able to keep pace, staying ahead or or tied with the Borderites through six innings.

The team got its first runs in the third inning on a hit and run in which senior Josh Coleman knocked speedy sophomore Dane Guetlin home from second base. Danny Mulcahy, who would go 2-for-5 on the day, then brought Coleman home with a double that went to the left field wall.

Trailing by a run in the seventh inning, the Falcons knotted the game at 4-4 when senior Michael Berry hit a double, moved ahead on a Drew Mathis base hit, then came home on a wild pitch.

It would take two more innings to settle the contest. In the ninth, it was Guetlin finishing the game as he started it. After getting on base with a double, he moved to third on a Coleman single. He then waited until Michael Osburn came up two hitters later to knock the ball through the hole at third base. That was enough to bring Guetlin home.

Reliever Dustin Sidhu finished the game with a 1-2-3 final inning, giving the Falcons their fourth North Cascades Conference victory of the season.

Giving the team hitting power on the day was Coleman, going 3-for-5, and Guetlin going 2-for-3.

The Falcons play next at home Monday at 4:30 p.m. against Meridian.

With four games remaining in their schedule, the Falcons are ranked seventh in the NCC. They must be in the top 8 to qualify for the playoffs.