Gauchos battle through elements for fourth straight win

The Saddleback baseball team held on to its lead in the Orange Empire Conference with a 2-0 win over Santa Ana College on Thursday at Doug Fritz Field.  The game was delayed one hour due to rain.

Saddleback and Santa Ana had to wait an hour to start the game but still finished the game quicker than Tuesday's marathon that took nearly four hours.  The Gauchos and Dons hooked up in a pitcher's duel that lasted just 2:20 once it started, thanks to great pitching on both sides.

Saddleback finally broke through a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when Dallas Dey sacrificed home Andrew Wilson after Wilson and Ryan Fitzpatrick led off the inning with back-to-back singles against Santa Ana starter Guillermo Sanchez, who had surrendered just two hits entering the inning.

Saddleback would add another run in the seventh when Dey reached on a fielder's choice, again scoring Wilson for a 2-0 lead.  Wilson would finish with two of the six Gaucho hits on the day just two days after Saddleback erupted for 17 hits on Tuesday.

The pitching was brilliant as Domnique Key (pictured) pitched seven innings in improving to 3-0 on the season.  Jordan Scheftz pitched to two batters in the eighth inning before giving way to Daniel Endsley in the 8^th inning.  Endsley was flawless over the final 1.2 innings, picking up his fifth save of the season.  Saddleback pitchers gave up only six hits and two walks all afternoon as only one Santa Ana runner reached third base for the game.

Saddleback (21-5, 9-2) has now won four straight games in taking a 1.5-game lead in the Orange Empire Conference.  The Gauchos and Dons are scheduled to finish the three-game set on Saturday, weather permitting.  The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM in Santa Ana.