Saddleback rallies late

The Saddleback baseball team rallied for a 13-11 win against Cypress College on Thursday in Cypress.  The Bobcats and Chargers will conclude the series on Friday.

Saddleback took a second straight game from Cypress on Thursday, turning the tables on a Cypress squad that entered the week at No. 5 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) entering the week. 

Both teams had a problem keeping the others off the base paths as the two teams combined for 28 hits and 22 walks in the game.  

Saddleback led 10-5 heading into the bottom half of the eighth inning when Cypress struck for six runs in what looked like a knockout punch delivered by the Chargers.  The Bobcats then got back up off the mat and scored three runs of their own in the top half of the ninth inning to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Saddleback took advantage of pitching and defensive miscues handed out by Cypress in the ninth inning.  The Bobcats had two walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch from the Charger hurlers in getting the rally started.  They scored the opening run of the inning when Jack Borges crossed home plate after a passed ball.  Dmitri Susidko then delivered a two-run single to score Joey Doskocil and Andrew Bertolette for a 13-11 lead.

Saddleback used four pitchers on the day as the pitching staff was running on fumes after throwing 201 pitches in the opening game of the series on Tuesday.  The Bobcats called upon Miles Chandler in the bottom half of the eighth inning and he finished out the game in picking in improving to 2-1 on the season. 

Saddleback had plenty of offensive stars to go around.  Doskocil and Bertolette both reached base five times to lead the way.  Doskocil was 3-for-4 with two walks and five RBI in taking the starring role for a second straight game.  Bertolette (pictured) finished 2-for-3 with three walks and three RBI.

Saddleback is now 16-14 overall and 6-5 in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play following the win.  The Bobcats are now tied with Fullerton College for fourth place in the OEC standings.

Saddleback and Cypress will conclude the series on Friday at Saddleback at 1:00 PM.