Gauchos get redemption in Bakersfield

Gauchos get redemption in Bakersfield

The Saddleback baseball team made up for two days of frustration with a 23-2 blowout win over Bakersfield College on Thursday in Bakersfield.  The Gauchos had 20 hits, including nine extra-base hits.

Saddleback woke up grumpy after dropping consecutive games to Reedley and Sequoias earlier in the week and wanted to finish their three-day tour of the Central Valley on a high note.  The Gauchos made a statement, blasting Bakersfield to make the ride home a bit more comfortable.

Saddleback scored in every inning but the ninth inning in improving to 21-7 on the season.  They sent 10 men to the plate in the third inning in blowing the game wide open.  Saddleback then scored another four runs in the fourth inning as the lead grew to 12-1.  The big blow was a three-run homer by Chad Crosbie, who finished 3-for-4 with five RBI on the afternoon.

Not to be outdone, Willie Lajoie finished off a special day when he hit a grand slam during a five-run sixth inning as the lead grew to 19-2.  Lajoie (pictured) finished the day 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs-scored.  Jordan Fitzgerald also had his biggest day of the season as he went 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs-scored. 

Daniel Harris started the game and completed six innings in improving to 2-1 on the season.  Harris spread around six hits in his six innings of work before giving way to the trio of Chase Spinning, Zak Nocon and Nick Hernandez.

Saddleback will be back in Orange Empire Conference play next Tuesday when they start a three-game set with Orange Coast College.  The Gauchos host the opening game with the Pirates on Tuesday at 2:00 PM.