Bobcats rally for win

The Saddleback baseball team defeated San Diego Mesa College, 8-7, on Tuesday afternoon at the Saddleback baseball field.  The Bobcats rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Saddleback started great, scoring four times in the bottom half of the first inning in what looked like a potential rout.  The big blast was a two-run homer from Jacob Beauchaine as the Bobcats scored four unearned runs on the Olympians.

Saddleback couldn't hang on to the lead as Mesa struck for four runs of their own in the top half of the third inning with some timely hitting with two outs in the inning.  The Olympians then took the lead in the top half of the fourth inning when Gavin Gamino hit a solo shot for a 5-4 Mesa advantage.

The teams headed to the bottom of the ninth inning with Mesa clinging to a 7-5 lead after scoring solo runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.  Saddleback immediately put pressure on the Mesa pitching staff, who entered the inning looking to protect a two-run advantage for what would be a big win.  The Bobcats had other plans.  

Michael Walshe was called upon to pinch hit for Saddleback in the leadoff spot and hit a sharp line drive to the left side of the infield that glanced off the shortstop's glove and into left field for a lead-off single.  Matthew Deutsch was also brought in to pinch hit and managed a walk to put the potential winning run at home plate with no outs in the inning.  Dmitri Susidko then provided the big blow when he hit a line drive down the left field line for a double to score both Hayden Carlson and Joey Doskocil to tie the game, both of which had entered as pinch runners to add speed on the basepaths.  With the potential winning run at second base, Mesa pitcher Nate Cena tried a pickoff play and threw the ball into center field, allowing Susidko to advance to third base.  Making matters worse, Cena then plunked James Derflinger which set up an intentionally walk situation to Rodrigo Barajas to load the bases.  With one out in the inning, Ruben Rodriguez then had a sacrifice fly to right field to score Susidko with the winning run. 

Saddleback pitchers were a bit of an enigma in the game.  The Bobcat staff struck out 14 Olympians for the game, but continuously got themselves into trouble with a total of 10 walks (6) and hit batsmen (4).   

Saddleback is now 9-3 for the season following the win.  The Bobcats will travel to Southwestern College on Thursday.  Saddleback and Southwestern are scheduled to start at 1:00 PM in Chula Vista.