Cats blank Raiders for 5-0 start
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saddleback | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 1 |
|
Moorpark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
The Saddleback baseball team won its fifth straight game to start the season with an 8-0 victory over Moorpark College on Friday in Moorpark. It is the first 5-0 start since the team started 6-0 back in 2022.
Saddleback wasted no time in jumping on the Raiders, scoring twice in the opening inning. Dmitri Susidko led off the inning with a single and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. Austin Palmares then singled home Susidko to take an early lead. Later in the inning Robert Gray doubled home Palmares and the Cats were off and running.
Saddleback increased the lead to 4-0 in the top half of the third inning when they took advantage of some pitching and defensive miscues from the Raiders. Gray singled Rodrigo Barajas over to third base, and he came around to score on an errant throw from the center fielder. Later in the inning Gray would score on a wild pitch.
Saddleback put the game on ice when it scored four more times in the fifth inning for an 8-0 lead. Gray led off the inning with his team-leading third home run of the season. Michael Walshe then tripled, which was the beginning of the end for Moorpark. The Raiders then self-destructed with a walk, wild pitch and an error in the inning. It all added up to an 8-0 lead, which was more than enough for a pitching staff that was clicking on all cylinders.
Jack Wade started on the mound and was in complete control. The ace lefty pitched through the sixth inning, surrendering just two hits while striking out nine in picking up his first win of the season. The Bobcats then turned the game over to the bullpen, who allowed only one hit over the final three innings with Jack Gallison, Ryan Kepple and Adam Roldan all getting an inning of work.
In total, Saddleback finished with 12 hits on offense. Gray was the leader, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs-scored and two RBI.
Saddleback will look for a sixth straight win to start the season when it hosts Southwestern College on Tuesday. The Bobcats and Jaguars are scheduled to start at 2:00 PM on the Saddleback diamond.