Byrns swats back at Bees

The Saddleback baseball team battled to a 3-1 victory over Fullerton College on Thursday at Doug Fritz Field.  The Bobcats received a great start from Tyler Byrns in evening the series at one game apiece.

Byrns was electric on the mound, pitching seven complete innings in what is the teams' longest start of the season.  Byrns struck out eight while surrendering just two hits and two walks.  The Saddleback defense was also behind him, committing no errors on the day after committing three in the opening game of the series on Tuesday.

Saddleback struck first in the bottom half of the third inning when the offense tied together three hits in the inning.  Makani Tanaka doubled to left-center field and was brought home to score on a single from J.C. Allen.  Two batters later Allen was brought home on a two-out single from Rodrigo Barajas. 

Fullerton closed to within 2-1 in the top half of the fourth inning, but Saddleback quickly responded.  The Bobcats increased the lead to 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning when Tanaka doubled home Ben Castelli with two outs in the inning.

Byrns gave way to Jayden Graves, who struck out two batters in the eighth inning before turning the ball over the Zachary Allegro in the top half of then ninth inning.  Allegro hit a batter and allowed  a hit before getting Rudy Gonzales to hit into a game-ending double play.  Saddleback pitchers struck out 11 Hornets on the day.

Saddleback is now 14-9 overall and 4-4 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Bobcats will finish the three-game series on Friday at Fullerton.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM in Fullerton.

SCHEDULING NOTE:  Saddleback scheduled a non-conference game against Palomar College on Saturday.  The Bobcats will host the Comets at 1:00 PM.