Bobcats bounce back against Cougars
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cuesta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
|
Saddleback | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | X | 8 | 10 | 0 |
The Saddleback baseball team rallied for an 8-3 win against Cuesta College on Friday at Doug Fritz Field. The Bobcats scored six runs in the final three innings to improve to 8-2 on the season.
One day after letting a lead get away, Saddleback returned the favor to Cuesta to even the series at 1-1 on Friday. Saddleback tied the game in the bottom half of the seventh inning and then opened the floodgates in the final two innings in what had been a close game up until that point.
Saddleback trailed 2-0 in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Isaiah Morales (pictured) hammered the first pitch of the inning over the left field wall to cut the lead to 2-1. Later in the inning the Bobcats would even the score when Jason Hefft singled home Ben Castelli after Castelli had walked earlier in the inning. It was one of three walks on the day for Castelli, who scored a pair of runs in the game.
Saddleback trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom half of the sixth inning when the offense found its stride. Jacob Naso doubled with one out in the inning and was driven home by Cole Koniarsky to tie the game at 3-3.
Saddleback took a 5-3 lead in the bottom half of the seventh inning, pounding out three hits and taking advantage of a walk to start the inning. The Bobcats tacked on three more in the eighth inning, thanks in large part to a pair of defensive miscues from the Cougars.
Saddleback used five pitchers in the game. The Bobcats started C.J. Zwahlen, who pitched four innings before giving way to Zachary Allegro. Tyler Byrns pitched one inning of work before Will Girardi took over in the seventh inning. Girardi improved to 2-0 on the season in picking up the win. Blake Butcher pitched a clean ninth inning in mop-up duty.
Jacob Naso led the offense, finishing 3-for-6 with one run scored. J.C. Allen reached base three times, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks.
Saddleback is now 8-2 to start the season. The Bobcats will play again on Tuesday when they host San Diego Mesa College. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.