Rios Grande in clinching win
Saddleback advances to play Palomar in round two
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
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1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 7 | 12 | 1 |
The Saddleback baseball team battled for a 7-2 win over College of the Desert on Monday to advance to the next round of regional play. Starter Ryan Rios pitched a gem as the Bobcats advanced to play at Palomar College next weekend in the second round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Tournament.
Ryan Rios made his first start since March 7 and looked very comfortable in his return to the starting lineup. The sophomore from Tesoro High School was inserted into a pressure-packed moment as the Bobcats entered the day running on fumes but needing a big performance to keep the season alive.
Rios pitched the first complete game for Saddleback since Sammy Cova pulled off the feat last March. He ran into some trouble in the opening inning when he gave up two runs as Desert looked ready to play. Rios (6-2) then diced apart the Roadrunner lineup for the next eight innings while the offense was building up a lead. Rios surrendered just five hits on the day and only three hits over the final eight innings. He struck out five while walking none.
Saddleback got within a run in the bottom half of the opening inning when Matthew Henning doubled and later came home to score on a wild pitch.
The Bobcats took the lead in the bottom half of the second inning when Wesley Hickey drove in two runs with a single. Little did the team know at the time, but it would be all the support that Rios would need.
Saddleback added a run in the bottom half of the third inning when Joey Doskocil laid down a perfect bunt with Carter Enoch on third base. It gave the Bobcats a 4-2 lead, which would stand until the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jack Borges added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning when he drove home two runs with a double for a 6-2 lead. The Bobcats would add one more run in the bottom half of the eighth inning against a Desert pitching staff that was running on fumes.
Henning led the offense, finishing 4-for-5 with three runs-scored. Dmitri Susidko also had a bug day with three hits in four at-bats with a pair of runs scored.
Saddleback (27-17) now advances to play Palomar College (37-5) in the second round of the playoffs starting on Thursday. The Bobcats and Comets have played twice this season, with both squads winning one time. Game times have yet to be determined.