Passing its first tough test of the season, the South Whidbey High School baseball team came from behind to defeat visiting King’s 4-3 in nine innings Monday, March 25.

The Falcons raised their league record to 4-0 and overall mark to 7-0 with the win. King’s dipped to 0-1 and 1-5.

South Whidbey scored the winning run on four consecutive walks in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Falcon coach Tom Fallon called the game a “character builder” for his club which overcame a 3-0 deficit to collect the win.

King’s scored all three of its runs in the third inning with the help of two Falcon errors, a walk and two hits.

South Whidbey scored two runs in the fifth inning when it recorded its only three hits of the game. With one out, Nick Young singled and Ethan Petty followed with another base hit. Alex Black then doubled to make it 3-2.

South Whidbey tied the game in the seventh. Nick Black reached on an error, Alex Black walked and Drew Fry moved them up with a bunt. Jon Bartel’s hard ground ball to shortstop plated Nick Black with the tying run.

Petty pitched the first six and two-thirds innings, with no earned runs, eight strike outs, three walks and four hits.

Brent Batchelor finished the game with three strikeouts and only one hit — a leadoff double in the ninth he left stranded.

They allowed only five base runners outside of the third inning and at one point retired 13 straight batters.

The Falcons overcame a strong pitching effort by the Knights’ Tyler Durbin, who pitched the first five innings, good for nine strikeouts, four hits and two runs. He also had three of Knights’ four hits.

The two teams play at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Shorewood High School and then return to Langley for a 4 p.m. game Friday, March 29.