Pitching is key in Gauchos' victory over Compton

Freshman pitcher Domnique Key proved to be the key in Saddleback's 6-1 non-conference victory over visiting El Camino-Compton Center on Saturday afternoon.

Key (2-0) pitched seven complete innings, striking out four without a walk and taking advantage of two defensive double plays, as the Gauchos improved to 10-2 on the non-conference schedule.  John Sheaks came in to pitch the eighth inning before Trevor Charpie struck out the side in the ninth inning to preserve the win for Key.

It was hit-or-miss offensively for the Gauchos - literally.  The Gauchos collected 10 hits on the afternoon but also struck out 11 times against three Tartar hurlers.  The Gauchos sandwiched three hits around two strikeouts in the third inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead as Dallas Dey singled, moved to third on a double by Colby Schultz, and both runners scored on a single to right field by Jared Donahoe.  Donahoe would have three RBI on the day as his single up the middle scored another run in the fifth inning after Schultz singled in a run and Dylan Diaz pushed across a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.  The Gauchos completed their scoring in the eighth inning after Casey Worden doubled and scored on a single by Cole Stanton.

Shultz, Donahoe, Stanton, and Dey each had two hits for the Gauchos.

Saddleback will begin tough Orange Empire Conference play this week with a pair of home games as it hosts Santa Ana College at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, and then Cypress College on Saturday, Feb. 28, at noon.