Gauchos close out Renegades to advance
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saddleback | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 1 |
|
Bakersfield | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
Starting pitcher Tyler Brashears allowed four runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning, then settled in for the next five innings while the Saddleback offense picked up steam, and the Gauchos came back to post a 7-4 victory, sweeping the Renegades and advancing to the Super Regional round May 10-12.
Saddleback (27-11) is the No. 3 seed in Southern California and, if either Fullerton or Riverside lose today, the Gauchos would be hosting one of the two Super Regional events next weekend.
Trailing 4-1, the Gauchos opened the top of the third inning with singles from Trevor Sealey and Jeff Butler before Brandon Cody tied the score with a 3-run home run. First baseman Noah Graham then gave the Gauchos the lead for good with a solo home run and a 5-4 lead.
Reliever Chase Jones was able to get the Gauchos out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning before Anthony Shew came in to close out the final two innings and earn his sixth save of the season.
Saddleback will now host a Super Regional Tournament next weekend after No. 2 seed Riverside College was bounced from the playoffs on Saturday. The Gauchos will play College of the Canyons on Friday at 5:00 PM while Mt. San Antonio will face Cypress College in the other half of the double-elimination regional at 11:00 AM. The winner of the regional will play in the state tournament the following Friday-Sunday at Fresno.