Schultz and Charpie draw up win over Tigers

Saddleback continued its winning ways with an exciting, come-from-behind 8-5 victory over visiting Riverside City College on Tuesday in a return to Orange Empire Conference action that extended the team's winning streak to four games.

The Gauchos (19-10 overall, 6-8 in OEC) had dropped four straight conference games before taking a week off for a tour through the Central Valley last week.  During that tour, the Gauchos realigned themselves with wins over Reedley, Sequoias, and Bakersfield colleges and made it four straight wins with the conference victory over Riverside.

Riverside starting pitcher Austin Sodders looked like a first-round draft pick as he picked up nine strikeouts in the first four innings while his Tiger teammates spotted him a five-run lead against Saddleback starter Cameron Aufderheide.  Sodders was 7-0 entering the game while Aufderheide was 5-0 so it was considered a dream matchup for baseball fans.  A defensive error by Saddleback allowed three unearned runs to cross the plate in the third inning and the Gauchos were in a 5-0 hole.

Saddleback was able to post two runs in the fifth inning on a run-scoring double by Ryan Fitzpatrick and an RBI-single from Colby Schultz (pictured).  The Gauchos threatened again in the sixth with a couple of baserunners and long at-bats, causing the Tigers to go to the bullpen in the seventh inning . . . and the comeback was on.

The Gauchos sent eight batters to the plate in the seventh inning, knocking David Robles (0-3) off the mound and, eventually, hanging the loss on him.  Fitzpatrick led off the inning with a double down the left field line and Jack Kaloogian drew a walk before Schultz doubled into the alley in right-center field.  Dylan Diaz was hit by an 0-2 pitch to load the bases and Brett Barker's sacrifice fly knocked in Kaloogian.  Cole Stanton followed with a single through the right side to tie the score at 5-5 and send Robles to the showers.  Dan James then sacrificed Diaz home with the go-ahead run.

Trevor Charpie, who replaced Aufderheide on the mound during the seventh inning, recorded five strikeouts and a walk to quiet the Riverside bats during the last 2-2/3 innings and earn the win.  Schultz, who finished with four hits and four RBI, added a 2-run home run in the eighth inning to give the Gauchos the final margin of victory.  Barker and Fitzpatrick each added two hits.

Saddleback will travel to Riverside to face the Tigers again on Thursday and then return home to host Fullerton on Saturday (April 11) at noon.