Bobcats outlast Jaguars

The Saddleback baseball team won its fourth straight game with a 12-10 victory over Southwestern College on Wednesday at Doug Fritz Field.  The Bobcats pounded out 20 hits in the win.

Saddleback and Southwestern battled in cold weather as game-time temperatures were around 58 degrees and eventually dipped down into the low 50's by the end of the game.  The Bobcats bolted out to a big lead and then had to hang for a win.

Saddleback had a 7-1 lead after three innings and it looked like the Bobcats would cruise to an easy win.  It didn't turn out that way as the cold weather triggered pitching problems as Saddleback struggled to get outs in the middle innings.  Southwestern scored six times in the fifth inning to tie the game, taking advantage of a walk, three hit batsmen and an error.  The Bobcats then answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth inning.  Saddleback had three hits in the inning and Southwestern returned the favor with a walk, passed ball and wild pitch. 

Saddleback carried a 12-8 lead into the top half of the ninth inning and had to hang on for the win.  The Jaguars scored twice to get within 12-10 and had the bases loaded with no outs in the inning.  Saddleback pitcher Nathan Helman then settled down, striking out the final three batters in turning back the Jaguars to preserve the win.

Saddleback pounded out 20 hits in the game as Cole Koniarsky, J.C. Allen and Isaiah Morales all had three hits in the game.  Will Girardi (pictured) entered the game in the fifth inning to pick up the win on the mound. 

Saddleback is now 11-2 on the season following the win.  The Bobcats are scheduled to host San Diego City College on Saturday afternoon, weather permitting.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.