Stevens lifts Bobcats to a win

The Saddleback baseball team is back in the winner's circle after a 5-2 win against Santa Ana College on Friday afternoon at Doug Fritz Field.  The win was the first for Saddleback athletics since it officially changed its mascot to the Bobcats on Tuesday, and the first for the baseball program in 11 tries.

Saddleback entered the game in a frustrating slump after dropping the opening game of the double-header, 6-2.  The Bobcats hadn't won a game since May 4 and turned to Rhys Stevens to end the slide.

Stevens was up to the task, spreading around four hits over seven innings while the offense built up a 5-2 lead.  He turned over the rock to Ethan Holt in the eighth inning, who silenced Santa Ana over the final two innings for his first save of the season.  Stevens finished with eight strikeouts in the game in improving to 3-1 on the season.

Saddleback busted out early, scoring five runs in the opening inning to take a 5-0 lead.  The Bobcats sent 11 batters to the plate, with the first seven batters all reaching base.  Saddleback scored five times in the inning despite only two hits, taking advantage of three walks, two hits batsmen and an error on the Dons.  David Le Bioda led off the scoring with a single to score Danilo Tiotuico in a game where the Bobcats ever trailed.

Saddleback improved to 10-14 overall and 6-9 in Orange Empire Conference play with the win.  The Bobcats will play a four-game series with Fullerton College next week to close out the season.  Saddleback will host games on Tuesday (2:00 PM) and Thursday (2:00 PM) before heading to Fullerton for a double-header on Friday (12:00 PM).