Baseball wins fourth straight

The Saddleback baseball team improved to 14-3 overall and 4-1 in Orange Empire Conference play with a 4-2 win over Irvine Valley College on Tuesday at Doug Fritz Field.  The Gauchos are still in second place, one game back of Fullerton College.

Saddleback trailed 2-0 in the second inning after the Lasers took advantage of an error in scoring a pair of runs in the top of the inning.  The Gauchos struck back with a run in the bottom half of the inning, returning the favor with an unearned run.

The score remained the same until the bottom half of the seventh inning when Saddleback tied the score thanks to some carelessness in the field by IVC.  Ryan Fitzpatrick was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robby Biehl.  Andrew Wilson was then hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second with one out.  Kyle Candalla then followed with a grounder to short, which was misplayed by Jordan Gillerman, allowing Fitzpatrick to come around and score the tying run as the two clubs went to the eighth inning tied at 2-2.

Saddleback started the bottom of the eighth inning with a walk to Jared Donahoe, but the threat was momentarily thwarted when Brandon Heinrich grounded into a double play.  Dallas Dey was then walked and stole second, to put the potential go-ahead run at second base.  Fitzpatrick (pictured) then blasted a two-run homer to left field, giving Saddleback its first lead of the game.  He would finish 2-for-3 on the afternoon to lead the offense.

The Gauchos again received great work from the bullpen, which has been a running theme all season.  Jordan Scheftz came in to relieve starter Domnique Key in the seventh inning and picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season.  He pitched 1.1 innings before turning the ball over to Daniel Endsley in the ninth inning.  Endsley slammed the door shut on the Lasers in the ninth, striking out one along the way.  Gaucho pitchers struck out seven IVC players throughout the game while giving up six hits and two walks.

Saddleback and Irvine Valley will finish the three-game set on Thursday at IVC.  The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM in Irvine.