Gauchos use long ball to defeat Lasers

The Saddleback baseball team got an ounce of revenge over visiting district rival Irvine Valley on Friday, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to post a 5-2 victory.  The win also kept the Lasers from sweeping the three-game series.

Saddleback (15-7, 6-5) trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when it loaded the bases and finally got on the scoreboard as Cody Schmitz' ground ball got one run across.  Schmitz then stole second safely but the throw from the Lasers' catcher was bobbled by the shortstop, allowing Casey Bennett to scamper home from third base with the tying run.  Designated hitter Brian Romero then launched a home run over the right field fence to give the Gauchos a 4-2 lead.

The Gauchos added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning as first baseman Noah Graham led off with a solo shot deep over the fence in left-center field and pitcher Tyler Brashears was able to shut down down the Lasers in the ninth. 

Brashears went the distance for the Gauchos, improving to 3-2 on the mound.  He struck out four and walked two while allowing just four hits.

Saddleback will be on the road for three games, travelling through the Central Valley for games at Reedley, Sequoias, and Bakersfield before returning home on Saturday, March 30, to host San Diego Mesa at 12:00 noon.