Gauchos beat Warriors to stay perfect

The Saddleback baseball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 5-2 win at El Camino College on Tuesday afternoon in Torrance.  Brett Auerbach had four hits while the pitching held the Warriors in check.

Saddleback trailed for the first time this season after El Camino scored in the bottom half of the second inning for a 1-0 lead.  It didn't take long for the Gauchos to get back on track as they answered with two runs in the top half of the third inning to grab a 2-1 lead.  Mike Jarvis singled home Jordan Fitzgerald with the first run of the inning before taking second base on a throwing error from the right fielder.  He would later come home to score when Auerbach beat out an infield hit to give Saddleback a 2-1 lead.

The game was tied at 2-2 heading to the top of the sixth inning when Saddleback struck to take back the lead.  Auerbach (pictured) led off the inning with a single to right field and later came around to score when Willie Lajoie singled him home, advancing Brett O'Toole over to third base.  O'Toole would then come home to score on a wild pitch, giving the Gauchos a 4-2 lead.

Saddleback would add an insurance run in the top half of the seventh and again it was Auerbach as the catalyst.  He singled with two outs in the inning and then stole second base to get into scoring position.  O'Toole delivered with a two-out single up the middle and the Gauchos had a 5-2 lead.

Daniel Harris started on the mound for Saddleback and completed five innings to pick up the win.  Harris struck out five while walking two and spreading around seven hits before giving way to Alex Kent.  Kent then pitched the final four innings of work, surrendering only two hits while striking out six to pick up his first save of the season.

Auerbach finished 4-for-4 on the day while scoring a pair of runs.  It was his first hits since opening the season with a triple in game one last Friday.  He's now batting .455 for the year.

Saddleback will be at home for a three-game set with Santa Barbara City College starting on Thursday.  The first pitch between the Gauchos and Vaqueros is set for 6:00 PM on Thursday.