Key locks up Rustlers to force game three

The Saddleback baseball team staved off elimination on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Golden West College in the best-of-three series in Huntington Beach.  Domnique Key was the star, shutting down the Rustlers to force a winner-take-all game on Sunday.

Saddleback was facing elimination and playing for their season to stay alive.  Key pitched like it, holding Golden West to just six hits in pitching a complete game shutout.  The defense was also on point, committing no errors and taking every punch the Rustlers threw.

Saddleback took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Colby Schultz scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning.  It was something the Gauchos neglected to do routinely on Friday, but proved to be the only run they would need on Saturday. 

Saddleback would add another run in the fifth inning when Jack Kaloogian singled home Alex King from second base with two outs in the inning.  He would later try to score on a single by Scultz but was gunned down at home plate to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Key was rolling along.  The freshman pitched out of a mini-jam in the opening inning and another in the third, but never lost his poise.  He again faced problems in the fifth and seventh innings but again managed to work his way out of trouble as the Golden West bats couldn't get the big hit when it mattered.  In all, the Rustlers had 11 batters reach base safely but were unable to push one across home plate as Key improved to 8-2 on the season.

The win sets up game three tomorrow with the winner moving to the regional finals next weekend.  The Gauchos (26-14) and Rustlers (26-15) are scheduled to throw the first pitch at 12:00 PM in Huntington Beach.