9TH INNING WIN OVER SADDLEBACK
After beating Saddleback 11-6 on the road Tuesday, the Hornets kept it going at home Thursday knocking off the Bobcats 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
|
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0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 0 |
After beating Saddleback 11-6 on the road Tuesday, the Hornets kept it going at home Thursday knocking off the Bobcats 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth.
The Bobcats clawed away early and often with runs in the second, fourth, and sixth innings. Highlighted by a 3-RBI double by Hayden Carlson in the fourth and an RBI ground-rule double by Austin Palmares, the Bobcats built a commanding 6-2 lead, and it looked as if the clouds were closing in on the Hornets.
Refusing to fold, Trevor Schmidt ignited the comeback in the third with a 2-RBI double, then drove in another with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Down 7-3 entering the bottom of the sixth, Schmidt delivered again- this time with a towering 3-run home run to center that tied the game 7-7. In all, Schmidt delivered with a staggering 7 RBI on the day.
Saddleback was silenced in the top of the ninth, and Fullerton finished the game off in the bottom half when Dillon Anderson smoked a line-drive to right that plated Nate Pone from second setting off a celebration in center field where Anderson was chased down by his Hornet teammates.
Will Valenzuela locked down the win for the Hornets throwing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, while striking out 2 and stranding the potential go-ahead run in the eighth. Starter Joshua Porter gave up 6 runs in four innings, while the bullpen trio of Ethan Harris, Joel Sanchez, and Valenzuela held the Bobcats to just one run over the final 5 frames.
Up Next: The Hornets (20-19 overall, 10-10 OEC) will play the final game of the regular season at Saddleback College this Friday, April 25th at 2:00 pm.
