Gauchos take out big lumber in win over Golden West

The Saddleback baseball team powered its way to an 8-2 win over Golden West College on Tuesday at Doug Fritz Field.  The Gauchos took out the big lumber, hitting three home runs in improving to 27-11 on the season.

Saddleback had a rocky start when ace Tanner Brubaker surrendered two runs in the opening inning as the Rustlers looked as if they had upset on their minds.  The Gauchos responded with solo runs in the bottom half of the first and second innings before exploding for three more runs in the bottom half of the third in streaking past Golden West.

Willie Lajoie started the offense with a two-out double to right-center field in the bottom half of the first.  Saddleback took advantage of the hit when Brett O'Toole delivered an RBI single to left field, driving home Lajoie.

Saddleback got even in the bottom half of the second inning when Spencer Heinsius got a ball up in the jetstream to left field to tie the game at 1-1.  The Gauchos took the lead for good in the bottom half of the third when Lajoie homered to left field with Mike Jarvis and Brett Auerbach on base for a 5-2 lead. 

The score remained the same until the bottom half of the sixth inning when Riley Kasper ran into a pitch for his first home run of the season with Heinsius on base.  It marked the second time this season that Saddleback has hit three home runs in a game and gave the Gauchos a 7-2 lead.

Saddleback added an insurance run in the bottom half of the eighth inning when Filip Smola delivered a two-out single to score Chad Crosbie.

Brubaker settled down after the opening inning to pitch his third complete game in the past four outings.  He is now 11-2 on the season after allowing eight hits while striking out three on Tuesday. 

Lajoie and Heinsius guided the 10-hit attack, collecting two hits apiece.

Saddleback will continue the three-game set against Golden West on Thursday in Huntington Beach.  The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.