Bobcats bust out in series finale

The Saddleback baseball team finished the week on a high note with a 15-3 win against Orange Coast College on Saturday in Costa Mesa.  It was the highest output of runs since early February. 

Saddleback dropped the opening two games against Orange Coast on Tuesday and Thursday, and some wondered how the young cats would respond.  Saddleback growled back with 17 hits in game three for a feel-good ending to the week.

Saddleback struck for four runs in the top half of the second inning to take the lead.  The big swing was a three-run homer from Jacob Beauchaine (pictured) to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead.

Saddleback led 4-1 heading to the sixth inning when it tied its biggest inning of the season.  The Bobcats scored seven times as they sent 11 batters to the plate.  Beauchaine hit his second home run of the game to start the inning and later had a second hit in the inning.  They were two of six hits in the inning for Saddleback, who took a commanding 11-1 lead.

Saddleback tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning, with Beauchaine adding his fourth hit of the game.  The freshman from Capistrano Valley Christian High School finished 4-for-5 with three runs-scored and six RBI.  Beauchaine raised his average 51 points on the day and now sits at .333 for the season.

Saddleback started Jack Wade on the mound and he pitched four innings before giving way to Dylan Blakey.  Jacob Hudson, Isaac Rodriguez and Zachary Allegro all pitched one inning down the stretch with the Bobcats in control.  The staff struck out nine Pirates on the day with Blakey (2-2) picking up his second win of the season.

Saddleback is now 13-8 overall and 3-3 in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play following the win.  The Bobcats continue OEC play next week with a three-game series against Fullerton College.  The Bobcats will travel to Fullerton on Tuesday (2:00 PM) and Friday (1:00 PM) while hosting the Hornets on Thursday (2:00 PM).