MISSION VIEJO --- West Los Angeles fell behind early, trailing 7-0 after three innings to a red-hot Saddleback College squad and suffered a 17-3 non-conference loss on Monday.

The Wildcats were playing in just their second game of the season and fell to 0-2 while Saddleback has won six consecutive games to open the year and improved to 6-0.

West LA rallied for two runs in the top of the fourth getting an RBI single from Juan Jacobo that scored Noah Matsumoto and a sacrifice fly from Danny Gill that drove in Kai Hershberger. A two-out Saddleback error in the seventh allowed the Wildcats to score their final run of the contest.

The Wildcats totaled seven hits, led by two each from Nathan Nykaza (2 for 4) and Matsumoto (2 for 3, run).

Five West LA errors put a strain on the Wildcats' pitching. Starter Nick Villa took the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) and four hits over 1 1/3 innings. Justin Baldwin tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

West LA returns to action on Wednesday (Feb. 9) when the Wildcats travel to Mt. San Jacinto College for a 2 p.m. non-conference game.