Gauchos score early to beat Sequoias

A day after falling to Reedley College, the Saddleback baseball team bounced back for a 5-1 win over College of the Sequoias on Wednesday afternoon in Visalia. The Gauchos scored four runs in the first inning as the pitching shut down the Giants.

Saddleback busted loose early as the first four batters all reached base on hits, with the big blow being a three-run double by Noah Graham (pictured) with the bases loaded.  Graham would later score on an error as the Gauchos jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

Sequoias bounced back with one run in the bottom of the second inning, taking advantage of a hit, a walk and a balk to close the gap to 4-1. 

The Giants would get no closer as starter Taylor Ohl settled down, allowing just two hits over the next five innings and facing the minimum amount of batters in four of the innings.

Saddleback scored an insurance run in the sixth inning when Eric Ehlow singled home Brandon Cody, making the score 5-1.

Colby Sims came on to pitch the final two innings for the Gauchos and shut down Sequoias to preserve the win.

Saddleback belted out 11 hits in the win as Slate Miller, Brian Romero and Josh Fuentes each had two hits on the day.  Sequoias finished with just five hits on the afternoon.

Saddleback improved to 16-8 overall on the season with the win.  The Gauchos will conclude their tour of the Central Valley with a game at Bakersfield College on Thursday at 12:00 pm.  The Renegades enter the game at 18-7 overall.  Both teams are ranked in the top-10 in Southern California with Bakersfield at No. 4 and Saddleback at No. 7.