Gauchos show mettle in beating Olympians

The Saddleback baseball team improved to 11-2 with a 5-4 win against San Diego Mesa College on Wednesday at Doug Fritz Field.  Brett Auerbach won the game with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Saddleback had to wait an extra day after the Gauchos showed up at Mesa on Tuesday and the umpires were tardy, postponing the game until Wednesday.  Saddleback made the home fans wait a little bit longer, blowing a lead in the top half of the ninth before finally putting away the Olympians in the bottom half on a walk-off hit by Auerbach.

The bottom of the ninth started with a walk to Mike Jarvis.  The potential winning run was moved over to second base when Jo-Jo Quintanilla was hit by a pitch from Braeden Bentley, who was the seventh pitcher of the game for Mesa.  Jordan Fitzgerald stepped into the box and was trying to sacrifice the runners around with a bunt, but laid down a gem and was safe at first base to load the bases with no outs.  Mesa then moved its outfielders in to set up a potential play at the plate with a short fly ball, but Auerbach had different plans as he launched a ball over the left-fielder's head to end the game. 

Auerbach reached base on 3-of-4 at-bats, walking twice in the game.  Connor Glenn also reached base three times, collecting two hits and a walk.

Alex Kent came into the game in the top half of the ninth inning to get Saddleback out of a jam after the Olympians had tied the game and were threatening to take the lead.  Kent (pictured) quickly retired Victor Ceniceros on a swinging strikeout with runners on first and second.  He improved to 1-0 on the season after being credited with the win despite throwing just four pitches.

Saddleback will play again tomorrow when they travel to Southwestern College to take on the Jaguars.  The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM in Chula Vista.