Bobcats take game three from Pirates

The Saddleback baseball team picked up a win with a 7-3 victory over Orange Coast College on Saturday at Saddleback field.  The Bobcats are now one game out of fourth place with nine games remaining in the regular season.

Saddleback was desperate for a win after two heartbreaking losses to start the week.  The Bobcats finished the week with a feel-good win as the Pirates helped out with some pitching and fielding miscues.

Saddleback trailed 1-0 heading to the bottom of the first inning when they scored two runs to take a lead they would never relinquish.  The opening batter was Dmitri Susidko, who was immediately plunked which prompted the Pirates to go right to the bullpen without ever recording an out.  James Derflinger followed with a single before the next pitcher threw a wild pitch and walked two batters to score Sudidko and load the bases with no outs in the inning.  Andreas Nilsen followed with a sacrifice fly to score Derflinger with the go-ahead run.

Saddleback followed with solo runs in both the second and third innings to take a 4-1 lead.  Susidko was again hit by a pitch and quickly advanced to second base on a wild pitch before Derflinger singled to bring him home with the third run of the game.  The Bobcats scored the fourth run when Joey Doskocil singled and two batters later Hayden Carlson doubled down the left-field line to score Doskocil.

Saddleback started Jace Barajas on the bump and he pitched through the sixth inning in picking up the win and improving to 6-0.  Barajas got himself into a jam in the sixth inning when he hit a batter and gave up a run-scoring single to bring the Pirates within 4-3.  He then got a force play at second base with the bases loaded to end the inning and preserve the lead.

Saddleback put some distance between themselves and the Pirates when they scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-3 advantage.  Susidko and Derflinger led off with back-to-back singles before Rodrigo Barajas put down a sacrifice bunt attempt and the catcher proceeded to throw the ball down errantly down the right field line, allowing both runners to cross the plate.  Jacob Beauchaine then hit a sacrifice fly to score Barajas with the final run of the game.

Saddleback went to the bullpen in keeping the Pirates off the scoreboard.  Damon Anderson Wolf and Isaac Rodriguez scattered around three hits over the final three innings as Saddleback picked up a much-needed win.

Derflinger was the offensive star, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs-scored.  Susidko reached base three times and scored three runs.

Saddleback is now 19-12 overall and 5-7 in Orange Empire Conference play following the win.  The Bobcats have a three-game series with Golden West College next week, who leads Saddleback by one game in the standings.  The Bobcats host games on Tuesday (2:00 PM) and Friday (1:00 PM) while traveling to Golden West on Thursday (2:00 PM).