Dons Fall to Saddleback 6-2 as Gauchos Rally in Final Two Innings
The Dons were in control through seven innings against Saddleback, but the Gauchos scored six runs in the final two innings to hand the Dons a 6-2 loss.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
SANTA ANA - Through seven innings, Santa Ana College and Saddleback College were locked in a pitcher's duel with the Dons holding a slight edge. However, the visiting Gauchos were able to get to the Dons bullpen and score six unanswered runs to claim a 6-2 victory.
The Dons (11-6, 2-2) scored a run in the first on an infield single and a run in the seventh on an error to hold a 2-0 lead in a game that was being dominated by the two starting pitchers. SAC's Evanne Wilkes shut out the Gauchos (10-6, 2-2) through 6.1 innings while allowing just three hits while Anthony Shew allowed the two runs, one earned, on six hits in the same stretch of the game. Shew also had seven strikeouts to go along with his performance.
But the difference was in the two team's bullpens as Saddleback shut out the Dons over the final two innings while the Gauchos scored two runs in the eighth to tie the game and four runs in the ninth to take the lead.
Needing four runs in the final frame, the Dons had the leadoff batter reach on an error before the next three batters were retired in order to end the game.
Coleman Huntley (3-1) got the win as he pitched the final 1.2 innings for Saddleback without allowing a hit while A.J. Franks (2-1) took the loss for the Dons after allowing four runs on three hits in two innings.
