Gauchos blast Tartars for seventh straight win

The Saddleback baseball team improved to 13-2 on Saturday with a 22-1 win at Compton College.  The Gauchos scored all 22 runs in the first six innings before taking their foot off the gas pedal. 

Saddleback started the season with strong pitching and suspect hitting but in recent weeks has picked up the pace on the offensive side of things.  The Gauchos have now scored more than 20 runs in two out of the last four games and are averaging 10.4 runs-per-game over the past nine contests, paving the way for a seven-game winning streak.

Saddleback made a statement on Saturday when it scored in each of the first six innings, including a seven run outburst in the third inning to take a 13-0 lead.  They put a stamp on things in the fourth inning with another five runs as the Compton pitching and defense couldn't keep pace with a Gaucho squad that became the first team in Southern California to have 13 wins.  Saddleback totaled 18 hits in the game and took advantage of five Tartar errors as Compton fell to 4-9 on the year.

Brett Auerbach kept up his torrid pace on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with three runs-scored and four RBI.  The sophomore, who is already committed to Alabama, has now hit safely in seven straight games and leads the team with a .458 batting average.

In addition to Auerbach, five other Gauchos had two hits on the day and every player in the starting lineup recorded a hit.  Chad Crosbie finished 2-for-3, including his first home run of the season with a solo shot to right-center field to lead off the second inning.  Jo-Jo Quintanilla, Spencer Heinsius, Auerbach, Crosbie and Landen Moran all crossed home plate three times in the game. 

Saddleback's pitching was once again filthy.  The Gauchos allowed just one unearned run in the sixth inning as the team ERA dropped to 2.33 for the season.  Saddleback retired 10 Compton batters on strikes as Bradley Spooner (pictured) pitched five solid innings in improving to 3-0 on the season.

Saddleback will play again on Tuesday when they travel to Chaffey College.  The Gauchos and Panthers are scheduled to start at 2:00 PM in Rancho Cucamonga.