Cats shut down Lasers in series opener
Bobcats alone in third place with two games remaining
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 13 | 2 |
The Saddleback baseball team opened a three-game series against Irvine Valley College with 6-0 win on Tuesday at Saddleback. It was the second shutout of the season for the Bobcats.
Saddleback started Jace Barajas on the mound and the sophomore silenced the Irvine Valley bats for six innings while the offense was building up a lead on the scoreboard. Barajas (4-3) won his second start in eight days, allowing just four hits while striking out five along the way. Barajas then turned the ball over to the bullpen and Ryan Rios, Jack Gallison and Miles Chandler all pitched an inning of scoreless ball in the first shutout since early February when the Bobcats blanked Moorpark College, 13-0.
Saddleback opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second inning when Carter Enoch, Cole Strane and Dmitri Susidko all had singles to open the scoring.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom half of the fifth inning when Saddleback created some separation on the scoreboard. The Bobcats scored four times in the inning, all of which were unearned runs after the Lasers made a defensive miscue. Matthew Henning led off the inning with a single and eventually came around to score on an error by the IVC third baseman. Enoch added insult to injury three batters later when he doubled to left-center field to drive in both Jacob Hudson and Joey Doskocil. Andrew Bertolette then followed with a run-scoring single to give the Bobcats a 5-0 lead.
Saddleback added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Henning again singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a double play to give the Bobcats a 6-0 advantage.
Henning reached base three times to lead the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk and two-runs scored. Enoch was 2-for-4 with two runs-scored and two RBI for the day.
Saddleback is now 22-16 overall and 12-7 in Orange Empire Conference play following the win. The Bobcats are alone in third place in the conference standings with two games remaining.
Saddleback and Irvine Valley will resume the series on Thursday at Irvine Valley. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM in Irvine.
GAME NOTE: It is the sixth straight OEC series in which Saddleback has won the opening game of the series.